Again, sorry for the long wait. This time I was plagued by writer's block. Hopefully this chapter is worth the wait. Enjoy!
Chapter 10: Forgotten Goddess and an Ancient Whisper
"We're almost there," Auron announced, leaping down onto another pile of stone debris. "Give me your hand."
Honestly, from all the cliffs I'd scaled and platforms I'd jumped across in the past couple years, I really didn't need any assistance navigating through the ruins of Baaj temple. Then again, I hadn't been pregnant all those times either. Auron had sworn an oath to me before we crossed over into Spira. And I knew that was something he took seriously.
Complying with his request, I reached out to grasp his hand and carefully hopped down onto the debris below.
The inside of the temple was just how I'd remembered it—damp, gloomy, and dark, except for those ominous glyphs glowing on the walls. I wasn't too fond of the musty smell either. I don't recall it being so pungent, and I was doing my best to fight off the sudden queasiness that'd followed.
"Are you alright?" Auron threw me a concerned glance. "We can rest for a moment if you—"
"No, I'm fine," I insisted, eager to complete my mission before dawn rolled around. "We need to keep going."
"You're worried Tidus will try to cross through the rift."
Well, he wasn't wrong. That man of mine marched to his own set of drums. And I suppose that stemmed from his impulsiveness and rather stubborn nature.
"Every time Tidus is told not to do something he does the complete opposite."
"He made a promise to you, did he not?"
"Yes, he did but… He's not always very good at keeping them."
"I see… Does that have anything to do with what happened to him after defeating Yu Yevon?"
I was beginning to think that legendary guardian of mine could read my mind. "He promised to stay with me always."
"That wasn't something he had control over. And I doubt he'd made such a promise after learning his fate."
Biting down on my lower lip, I looked away, ashamed at how selfish and spiteful I'd sounded. "You're right. It wasn't his fault. I… I shouldn't hold that against him."
"You shouldn't. That young man loves you very much. He wouldn't allow you to suffer needlessly."
"I know. I don't want him to suffer either."
"Then let's not waste any more time on such negative thoughts. Focus on the mission." Auron gave me an encouraging nod then leapt down onto a stone slab that would put us close to the temple floor. Dusting off his iconic red coat, he turned to look up at me and held out his arms. "Jump."
It didn't seem like a very big leap from where I stood. But there was always the possibility of slipping and falling all the way down from one of my dizzy spells. And I assumed a similar thought had crossed Auron's mind as well, considering his chivalrous gesture.
Trusting my guardian, I bounded off the ledge and landed safely into his awaiting arms.
I had to admit—it was a bit strange having Auron handle me with such care. He wasn't like that on my pilgrimage. During that time, he'd treated me like a guardian would a summoner, urging me to grow stronger in battle and to stand on my own two feet. But lately, he seemed to be assuming the role of a concerned parent. And I couldn't help but wonder if that had something to do with my current situation, or the close friendship he'd had with my father. Either way, I was grateful.
Auron carefully set me down then peered over the ledge. "There doesn't appear to be any sign of fiends. But that can always change." He then tossed a stern look my way. "If one does happen to appear, leave it to me."
"I'm quite capable of handling a fiend or two," I refuted, slightly offended by his demand.
"Hmph… I'm aware of that from the other night. But we shouldn't spend more time here than what's needed. You don't have the luxury of getting caught up in useless battles."
And, once again, he was right. "I… I understand."
"Once we reach the temple floor, you'll need to head into the room where the Chamber of the Fayth is located. There you'll find a portal leading into the Farplane. I cannot accompany you inside that room. The last time I was there, I could feel myself…coming undone. Are you familiar with where the room is located?"
"Yes, I came here to retrieve Anima on my pilgrimage, and had visited a couple times afterward." I then shot him a curious glance. "So… This entrance to the Farplane opened when the rift appeared?"
"That's correct, and another reason we must hurry. There's no telling how long the rift will remain open." Then, he rather awkwardly reached for my hand. "Are you ready?"
I confirmed with a nod and accepted his gesture, gripping him tightly. "Let's do this!"
After exchanging a knowing glance, we leapt down onto the temple's stone floor, just in time to hear a shriek and a loud hiss come from somewhere above.
Auron swiftly drew his katana and scanned the top of the temple, searching for whatever had made the ghastly sound.
In the shadows, I spotted a scorpion-like creature crawling down the side of one of the stone walls. The fiend barred a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth and hissed once more.
"Over there!" I called, pointing to the north of us.
"I see it. Go—now!"
Normally, I'd never run from a fight, but Auron was right—we didn't have time to waste. Besides, if anyone could hold their own in a battle it would be him.
Bolting out of there, I raced down the dark, familiar path with only the light from the glyphs guiding my way. It hadn't taken long for me to arrive at the corridor that led to the staircase I needed to reach. And I froze at the sight. I'd forgotten how it was partially submerged underwater.
Determined not to allow my encounter from the other night to deter me, I jumped in and waded through the cold, dark seawater, until I finally turned a corner to find the stairs leading to my destination.
I climbed up and onto the steps, shivering slightly as I opened the heavy wooden door. And just as Auron had promised, a bright, swirling portal greeted me inside, half-way between where I stood and the door leading to the Chamber of the Fayth.
The door shut behind with an echoing clunk, startling me to where I flinched at the sound. I then inched my way over to the portal with my stomach in knots, wondering how all of this was even possible, and how I'd gotten here when life had finally been going so well.
My thoughts drifted back to that night I'd spent with Tidus at the Mi'ihen travelodge. We were so happy back then and already planning our future. I remember thinking how nothing would ever tear us apart again. How we would finally be able to focus on us and starting a future together. I should've known it wouldn't last.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I gave my head a shake and fought off the dreary thoughts. Auron was right. I was way more negative than I realized.
Many of the times I smiled on my pilgrimage, I was actually weeping inside. I never wanted my guardians to know how truly sad and frightened I'd been. I needed to appear strong, collected, and ready to face what I'd thought to have been my destiny back then.
All a façade—one that'd crumbled under the weight of Tidus' love. Had I really fooled anyone other than myself all those years ago? And why hadn't anyone else but Auron confronted me about it? I suppose I needed to work on changing that aspect of myself.
Drawing in a quick breath, I pressed forward and finally stepped through the swirling portal.
The last time I'd set foot into that meadow swarming with pyreflies had been just before Tidus had proposed. I went there with him, seeking answers about his existence from the fayth. And they'd graciously allowed their slumber to be disturbed in order to provide them to us. We'd left there feeling relieved and confident of the future.
It's strange how things change. I, now, came here alone with the hope of securing my existence in the future, and that of my unborn child—something I never would've imagined happening.
After spending several minutes wandering around the glen, searching for anything that looked out of place, I stopped near the waterfall and thought back to what Auron had mentioned the other night.
I needed to focus on a feeling, a type of pull—something there drawing me in. To avoid any visual distractions, I closed my eyes and concentrated on just that.
It only took a few moments for me to feel a strange-type of force tugging at me. So, I began to cautiously follow it, peeking every-so-often to avoid stumbling over any obstacles or worse—running off the side of a cliff.
The air grew colder with every step. Goosebumps popped up on my arms. And the nervous flutter in my stomach had turned into a dreadful coil.
When the eerie sensations became almost too much to bear, I opened my eyes and found myself standing at the edge of the glen, where lush, green grass met calm, crystalline waters. My gaze drifted across the tranquil lake to what looked like several stationary cyclones, swirling with what I'd always thought to have been the fayth's magic.
But now, I was certain it was something else entirely.
I took a few steps forward and prepared to be submerged in water.
But that never came.
The only time I'd ever walked on water was when I'd performed that sending in Kilika after it'd been attacked by Sin. Back then, I was made aware of such a phenomenon occurring during the ritual. But I wasn't performing a sending at the moment. So, it was a little unnerving to say the least.
Still, I pressed on—drifting closer to the mystical, aqua-colored vortexes. My pulse was racing—bounding actually—and my ears were ringing. Just from a distance I could feel the energy drawing me in.
Before long, I reached one of the funnels and stood in awe before it. So much power, I thought. It's…overwhelming.
Mesmerized. There was no other word to describe it. I was completely and utterly mesmerized by the energy flowing in front of me.
In an effort to escape what was beginning to feel like a trance, I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment and gave my head a shake. This had to be the energy source I was searching for.
I quickly unzipped the pouch around my waist to retrieve the special vial then removed the cap. Once I'd accomplished my task, I reached out and held the glass tube in the energy stream. The vial filled with a glowing, aqua-colored substance, and I swiftly capped it right after. But my hand had accidentally slipped into the vortex during the process.
Adrenaline rushed through my veins. My body quivered. Then, a pulsating sensation began to build inside my chest, growing stronger and stronger to where I thought I'd just burst.
Suddenly, I felt like I could uproot a tree and toss it. I gasped and stumbled back, about to lose my balance completely.
Then, as I began to fall, a gentle, soothing hum echoed inside my head, and I felt a flood of emotions that had my body tingling from head to toe.
That was the last thing I remembered before being engulfed by darkness.
I assume I'd hit the water at some point just after losing consciousness. There was no way to know for sure. But when I came to, I was lying curled up on a black, granite floor in some type of tower constructed of metal beams, so high up that the clouds were level with the blue energy field surrounding the area.
Wherever I was, it no longer appeared to be the Farplane…or anywhere in Spira for that matter.
A heaviness settled upon my chest. And I began to panic. This was the last thing I needed to happen right now. I had to hurry back with the sample I'd collected in the—Oh no! The vial!
With my pulse racing, I sat up and prepared to search the area. That's when I realized I'd been clutching the vial in my hand the entire time.
Relief washed over me. For a moment, I thought I'd lost it and any hope of returning home. I quickly stashed the special, glass tube inside the pouch around my waist then closed the zipper, just in time to hear a sophisticated, female voice thunder from behind.
"Leave Spira at once!"
Scrambling to my feet, I turned to confront whoever was in the mysterious tower with me then hitched a breath at the sight.
Standing in front of a massive blue crystal, encased in an energy field with metal cogs rotating around, was a beautiful woman who appeared to be around Lulu's age with long, blonde tresses fading into crimson strands. A white and blue, cage-like dress was strapped to her body—leaving little to the imagination—and was accompanied by an array of swords floating behind her back. The crown upon her head matched her unique ensemble and slightly wobbled as she drifted over to where I stood.
My gaze quickly shifted over to the machina-like sceptre she held in her right hand with a glowing, blue crystal rotating inside. And all I could think about in that moment was if she intended to use it on me and blast me with a spell.
"Do you have any idea what could result from your foolish endeavour?" Her piercing, amber gaze narrowed at me, demanding an answer.
Honestly, I didn't know how to respond, or who I'd be responding to for that matter. But somehow I felt like I'd met her before. "Do… Do I know you from somewhere?"
"That's irrelevant!" she snapped. "You need to leave Spira at once!"
Was I even in Spira anymore? Now, I was getting a little agitated, and began demanding answers of my own, mentally preparing to fight her if she attacked. "Who are you and what is this place? I know this isn't Spira!"
"No, it isn't." Her features softened some. "But you've been here before."
I was a little stunned by her answer. And yet, it made perfect sense as to why she'd seemed familiar. "Then…why don't I have any memory of you or this place?"
"Because those memories remain here with me and the copy you'd left behind to fight for my cause."
Baffled and a little unsettled by what she'd revealed, I hugged my arms then released a troubled breath. "I… I don't understand."
"I hadn't intended to call upon you, or any of my warriors, for the foreseeable future. But you've done something that threatens this world. If you cease to exist, your copy here will as well. The balance between dark and light would shift and the very fabric of this world would begin to unravel once more. All would return to nothing. Spiritus and I will not allow that to happen. We'd all fought long and hard to achieve this balance—to save this world."
Spiritus? That name struck a chord. But of course it would. I, apparently, had been there before. And this woman was holding those memories captive for whatever reason.
"Why won't you tell me who you are? You're obviously powerful enough to pull me to whatever world this is and begin making demands of me. And do you honestly believe I would put my existence on the line for something foolish as you say?"
The mysterious woman's brow rose slightly, seeming surprised by my brazen response. "You've changed since returning to your world." Those stern, amber eyes suddenly possessed a hint of emotion, dropping briefly to my stomach. "You're with child, I see."
How'd she know that? Laying a protective hand over my tummy, I answered in an unwavering tone,"Yes, I am."
"Tidus is the father, I presume?"
"You know Tidus!?"
"I know all of your family and friends. Most of them were my warriors along with you."
"But…how?"
"Forgive me," she interjected. "I've never been very personable…or so I'm told." There was a tinge of resentment in her voice as though her ego had been bruised. She then gestured to herself in introduction. "I'm Materia—the goddess of this world. Spiritus and I reside over this realm, locked in an eternal battle, using our warriors of light and darkness to achieve the balance needed to restore its natural order."
Well, I wasn't expecting to hear an introduction quite like that. But, oddly enough, I no longer felt threatened. I suppose somewhere deep in the crevices of my mind, a tiny fragment of my memory pertaining to this place remained—enough that made me feel more at ease in this goddess' presence.
"This world… It's sustained by an endless battle?"
"Yes, it has to be…for now. In the end, we realized it was the only way to preserve our world's existence."
"I see…" Suddenly it occurred to me what Materia had revealed. She was a goddess, and had the ability to take memories from her warriors. My stomach fluttered with hope. Maybe I didn't need the fayth's help after all. I had something even better right in front of me. "Materia, I… I have a favor to ask of you."
The goddess lifted a curious brow. "I suppose I'm indebted to you for all your aid in the past. So, I will hear you out."
She was certainly right about not being very personable. But I didn't let that stop me. After giving her a lengthy explanation of what had happened to me and why, Materia seemed to exhibit a rare touch of concern.
"Those events are quite alarming. Though I cannot understand why you'd risk self-preservation by crossing into Spira's past."
"I have a child to think about and their father." Compassion was certainly not this goddess' strong suit.
"Forgive me. Human emotions remain an enigma to me. It was the main reason why most of my warriors questioned my motives. I'd learned much during that time, but had no need to practice such behavior once you'd all returned to your worlds."
So in other words—she was devoid of any empathy. Great…
"Understand that your world is not under my jurisdiction, and I cannot interfere in its fate, or that of any other world other than my own."
My brow dipped low in agitation. "But you're able to pull whoever you want from any world to do your bidding?"
"Those are the limitations of my powers. And I'm free to use them at will in order to preserve this world at any given time."
Apparently, Materia wasn't all-powerful as I'd hoped. My heart sank for a moment, but I wasn't about to give up just yet.
"So then, you're unable to send me back home to the future?"
"That's correct. Spiritus and I are able to call forth warriors from any world at any time. But once we've finished acquiring their aid, we must return them back to the exact location and time from which we'd retrieved them.
"There is no need to call upon warriors any longer though. The copies we'd made of all of you are more than adequate for the foreseeable future. I only called upon you, at this time, because your actions threaten the copy I have of you, and thus this world's existence."
"I see… What about erasing part of one's memory? I know you can do that."
Materia's expression remained cold and unflinching. "And who's memory would I be erasing?"
"My lover's. Tidus—the one in Dream Zanarkand who I'll be returning to once you send me back. He has to forget me, the moment we met, and everything after. It… It may be the only way to save Spira and ensure our future together."
Pursing her lips into a thin line, the goddess seemed to ponder my request for a few moments before finally giving me an answer. "I'll grant your request on one condition—you leave Spira immediately once you return."
I probably should've given this more thought. But at the time, it'd seemed like the best course of action, especially since there was no guarantee the fayth would be able to help, or if I would even succeed calling upon them for that matter.
Clasping my hands in front, I gave a firm nod, and eagerly agreed. "Deal!"
"Just so you're aware, the memories I obtain from my warriors are never erased as you say. They're removed in a fragment and transferred to a conduit of my choosing. In this world they were locked into what we referred to as manikins, which you'd all fought in order to obtain your memories once you'd grown strong enough without them."
"So, you're saying Tidus may be able to recover his memories of us in Zanarkand if he finds the conduit holding them?"
"Yes."
That was a risk I couldn't take. "Then…can you ensure it's locked into something he'll never be able to obtain?"
"Are you certain that's wise?"
"If he recovers those memories before that day at Djose, it'll change the future. I can't risk that happening."
"Very well. If that is your wish, I will grant it. On the eve of Sin's attack, Tidus' memories of you will be removed while he slumbers. Once he awakens, he'll be a little disoriented—the past several weeks of his life nothing but an indistinguishable blur. Leaving before then would be well advised."
"I… I understand." Now that I'd obtained a sample of Farplane energy, I was confident it would power the module like Auron had mentioned and return me home. At least, I hoped it would. "Wait… Could I change my mind about this later?"
Materia heaved an aggravated sigh then threw me a long look. "I cannot leave this world, Yuna. When I send you back, the magic needed to remove a fragment of Tidus' memory will be cast and locked away inside you, then transferred to him when you two are in close proximity to one another. That's the only way I can accomplish what you've requested of me. And once you cross the rift out of Spira, I cannot communicate with you in any way or bring you back here. The threat to my world will be eliminated at that point."
An uncomfortable chill rushed through me, and I shivered, knowing what that meant. "So then, I have to make a decision now."
"Choose wisely, Yuna. You cannot undo what will be done."
I thought long and hard about my options. And I found myself concentrating on the worst case scenario. If this Farplane energy didn't work on the module, and I ended up stuck in Dream Zanarkand, would Tidus be able to follow specific instructions for three years when he arrived in Spira?
Deep down I knew the answer to that question. As much as I wanted to believe Tidus could do so, I knew him too well—he'd try to find short-cuts, a better way to do things, he was just too impulsive. And while I knew he'd never intentionally do anything to jeopardize our family's future, I realized the monumental task he'd have to perform would need a near flawless execution. That's not something easily accomplished by anyone, let alone a high-strung, young man who wore his heart on his sleeve.
I loved my friends. I loved my family. And many of my friends I'd considered family. But Tidus… I loved him more than my own life. If I had to choose… Well, I'd choose for him to live on.
Never lose hope
Those words Auron had spoken to me were floating around inside my head. Perhaps I should give them a try for once. Hope for the best but plan for the worst. Not exactly positive, but I suppose it was a small step out of the dark pit I'd found myself in a moment ago.
"Yuna," the goddess called, drawing my attention. "Have you come to a decision?"
"I have," I confirmed with a nod. "But Tidus isn't the only one who needs to forget meeting me."
"So, you're requesting for me to remove a fragment of memory from two people now?"
"Yes, my other guardian, Sir Auron."
Those amber eyes gleamed with amusement. "Ah yes, the man of many regrets. You wish for his memory of you to be removed as well?"
"I think… I think that would be best. Neither of them can have any knowledge of what'd transpired over these past few weeks."
Materia slowly drifted over to me, carefully searching my eyes. "You're certain?"
Drawing in a trembling breath, I swallowed hard and gave another firm nod. "Yes."
"As you wish." The blue crystal in the goddess' sceptre began to glow. She then rested her left hand on my shoulder, and I felt a strange warmth trickle down my arms then flow all throughout my body. "It's done. On the eve of Sin's attack, Tidus and Auron's memories of meeting you will be removed during their slumber. Now—go! Leave Spira and return to your beloved."
Everything around me began to grow hazy, including Materia's features, which were now a bit of a blur.
"Yuna…" The goddess' voice had grown distant, but I could still make it out. "Remember, you must leave Spira once you return…or there'll be consequences. Farewell and good luck."
Darkness had briefly enveloped me once again. This time, however, I woke up with a gasp on a cool, wet surface. Judging from the pink sky and the funnels of energy churning in front, I was back in the Farplane, lying on what appeared to be the lake where I assumed I'd collapsed in the first place.
"What have you done?"
Another familiar voice. But this one I knew well. And I was actually a little stunned to hear it.
Clambering to my feet, I turned and faced the child fayth dressed in a purple cloak, the hood drawn low over his eyes as he hovered before me. "Bahamut…"
"Spira's life-force is not yours to take."
Well, I'd hoped for this meeting to happen. But I didn't like how it was starting out. "You don't understand! I need this to—"
"We understand perfectly," the fayth interjected with a disapproving shake of his head. "You traveled through time, and have been stuck in our dream."
So, they were aware of what happened. "Yes—well, no, actually. I was transported to this time against my will. The machina used was not my invention."
"That may be true, but the fact remains—you're stealing a part of Spira's life-force. And that has consequences far greater than you could ever imagine."
"I'm not your enemy!" I pleaded. "We were allies in battle once…in the near future. Together, we brought an Eternal Calm to Spira. And you all finally got the rest you'd sought for so long. I need this to return home and to stop a threat that will make Sin look like a mild inconvenience. Please, you have to believe me."
"So, you really are the summoner who will bring the Eternal Calm. And our dream helped you to achieve that goal?"
"Yes! Yes!" The tension in my neck eased a bit. Maybe… Just maybe I could make the fayth understand and get some much needed answers. "Tidus is more than just a dream though. Are you not aware of that?"
"We are. Tidus, like his father, has achieved a consciousness all of his own."
"It's more than that," I assured, running a loving hand over my abdomen. "He has his own soul now. And the child growing inside me is proof of that."
"You're carrying his child?"
"Mhm…" A tiny smile tugged on my lips at the thought. "A child conceived by us in the future. A future I desperately need to return home to."
"And you need part of this planet's life-force to aid you?"
"I'm afraid so," I answered, lowering my gaze. "Unless…" Peering up at the darkened space under Bahamut's hood, I prayed for a miracle. "Unless you can somehow send me home."
"As much as we'd want to, we cannot send anyone through time, nor are we able to manipulate it. If we could, don't you think we would've done so and tried to stop the Machina War from ever happening?"
"I suppose you're right." I wasn't really surprised by the answer. Just disappointed is all.
"Lady Yuna, meddling with Spira's life-force will only bring about this planet's destruction."
"And that's exactly what I'm trying to prevent," I tried to reason. "A friend of mine—he used it to create the time machine that'd brought me here. He's looking for a way to obtain even more, so he can power all of Spira with it."
"And in doing so, he'll slowly drain the life from our planet, until nothing is left."
"I understand. And I agree with you."
"Yet, you insist upon leaving with a vial of your own."
"But… I need that sample in order for me and my unborn child to survive. We need it to return home before Sin's attack."
"We're sorry."
Expelling a troubled breath, I rubbed my arms for comfort, and tried to think of how to appeal to the fayth in a more effective way, since expecting others to sacrifice their lives was nothing new for them.
"I have to get back in order to stop Shinra, or else whatever he's done—or planning to do—will enable someone far worse to tap into Spira's life-force."
"And who might that be?"
"Lady Yunalesca."
"Is that so…?" The child fayth trailed off in thought for a moment, dropping his gaze briefly. "If what you say is true, then that would explain a few things."
I blinked in surprise. "It… It would?"
"Since you arrived in Dream Zanarkand, we've been unable to communicate with our special contact there, or respond to your calls."
By 'special contact' I assumed he'd meant Auron. "So then…you did hear me."
"We did. And we were as confused as ever to hear from someone who claimed to be the summoner who vanquished Sin and Yu Yevon. But we knew your voice—your soul—it was that of Lord Braska's daughter. We'd heard it recently as well, seeking our aid to become a full-fledged summoner. It was then when we realized something was terribly amiss. But we had no way of contacting you, until now."
"Because I'm no longer inside the dream?"
"That's correct."
So part of my theory had been correct after all. Something had been blocking the fayth from communicating with their dream, and anyone living in it. Then, I had to wonder if there was a connection between that and another strange phenomenon—a common denominator to be exact.
"Are you aware of the rift that has opened?"
"We are."
"Do you suppose Lady Yunalesca may have been the one who created it, as well as whatever has been blocking your connection to a select few?"
"We're not sure how she'd be able to accomplish such a feat. But her father, Yu Yevon, is a different story."
"So you think he might have had something to do with it?"
"He's the only one who has the capability to do so, since it's his dream we're helping to summon."
"I see…" Not sure why I hadn't thought about that in the first place. Auron had mentioned how they might be working together.
"Why do you believe Lady Yunalesca is after Spira's life-force?"
"Because of what a mysterious pyrefly had shown me in the water."
"A pyrefly…? In our dream?"
So, I told him everything that happened the night before, hoping the fayth would be able to shed some light on the whole Yunalesca situation. But as I was doing so, I began to feel lightheaded and a little short of breath.
Then, a familiar voice popped into my head, issuing a dire warning.
We had a deal, Yuna. You must leave Spira at once! The longer you stay; the more ill you'll become. I warned you there were consequences.
Seriously!? Materia must've added a little something extra to the spell she'd lain dormant inside me. And I was a bit stunned to be honest. The thought that Materia would harm me any way had never crossed my mind. Then again, that goddess knew me from before. So, she had to have known I wouldn't allow any harm to come to myself or my child if I could help it. She wanted me to get out of there in a hurry. And now, I had no choice but to do so.
"I… I'm sorry," I breathed, holding a hand against my chest. "I… I have to go."
"You're not well," Bahamut stated with concern.
"I'm sorry. I have to leave."
"Lady Yuna, please reconsider what you're about to do."
Cautiously backing away from Bahamut, I slowly swept my head in defiance, surprised by what the fayth was asking of me. "No… I can't."
"Did it ever occur to you that maybe Yu Yevon wanted you to do this? That he specifically opened the rift and paved a way for you here, so you can leave with a part of Spira's life-force?"
No, I couldn't listen to this. I didn't want to listen to this. I had to get back. I had to leave Spira. I had to protect my child.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry!" Turning away, I broke into a sprint across the lake and raced over into the flowery meadows of the glen, panting hard as though I'd been running a marathon for hours.
Once I'd reached the majestic waterfall, I paused and bent over, hand-on-knees, gasping to catch my breath. This must've been what it felt like to be out of shape. Only that wasn't the case. It was that goddess' blasted spell.
Up ahead, I could see the swirling portal that would lead me out of the Farplane. Once I made it through, I'd have to get to Auron. And the thought of trying to climb out of that temple in this weakened state was making me feel even worse.
Just as I was about to make a break for the portal, pyreflies formed in front of me then brightened to reveal the child fayth in the purple cloak once more.
"Lady Yuna, you're making a grave mistake."
"I'll fix this! I… I promise, I will."
"We sincerely hope you can, because if you can't, neither you nor anyone else will be able to stop the calamity that'll be unleashed upon this world."
I adamantly shook my head. "I won't let that happen."
"There may come a time when those words return to haunt you. We truly hope that never happens. But sometimes fate isn't so kind. And you may need to find an alternate solution if Spirans are to survive."
Not sure I liked where this was going. "Alternate solution?" I echoed, confused.
"Lady Yuna, never forget who you are. You're the summoner who ushered in an Eternal Calm and lived to tell the tale, you brought an end to the endless, and made a dream a reality. Just as Tidus is more than a dream now, you, Lady Yuna are more than just a summoner. The people of Spira, their fate, and the fate of future generations are in your hands."
Then, Bahamut faded into a plume of pyreflies, leaving the entire weight of the world on my shoulders, yet again.
More than just a summoner? I had no idea what he'd meant by that and it'd left me feeling very unsettled. But this wasn't the time to ponder the fayth's words. I had to leave before I ended up passing out—or worse.
With a deep breath, I charged forward and ran through the portal into the familiar chamber lit by an array of glyphs on the stone walls.
The door ahead was still shut from earlier, and I had some difficulty pulling it open, since it felt like all the energy was being sucked out of my body with each passing second. Hopefully I didn't run into any fiends for that reason, because casting a spell at that point would be virtually impossible.
I all but collapsed into the dark waters waiting for me on the other side. Each step I took in those shallow depths was a struggle. My legs felt as though they were made of lead and my breaths had grown into full-fledged pants.
Rounding the corner, I came to the other set of stairs leading out of the water, and used the last of my strength to climb them.
I collapsed on my side once I reached the top, breathing heavily. How did Materia expect me to leave Spira like this? Was she trying to kill me? Maybe forging a deal with a goddess wasn't such a good idea after all. There was no use dwelling on it now. I had to focus on finding the strength to escape Spira.
With a loud grunt, I pushed myself off the stone floor and staggered to my feet. It took a second for me to regain my balance, but that's when a bout of dizziness struck.
I shut my eyes for a moment and leaned against the temple's stone wall, using it as a crutch to guide me into the other corridor.
At this point, I knew I needed help. And I had to be close enough to the main foyer that my guardian would hear my cries.
Sucking in a deep breath, I hollered as loud as I could, "Aurroonn!"
In a matter of moments, I heard the legendary guardian's heavy footsteps come charging around the bend. "Yuna!"
I glanced up as he approached, face creased with worry as he sheathed his katana.
"What happened?" he asked, pulling a potion out of the pocket of his red coat.
"It… It's a long story."
"Then save your strength." Yanking the cork out with a loud pop, Auron held the bottle up to my mouth. "Here—drink this," he insisted, tipping it against my lips. "You can tell me about what happened later."
The cool liquid felt delightful going down my throat, soothing it and the burning sensation that'd been plaguing my lungs. Turns out, I only needed a potion or so to keep me going. Maybe I'd misjudged Materia's intent after all.
"Did that help any?"
"A little. I no longer feel dizzy and some of my strength has returned. But I'm still feeling a bit winded," I admitted, holding a hand against my chest. "I'm… I'm not sure how I'll fare climbing out of here the same way we came in."
"Then it's a good thing I found an alternate route while you were gone."
That gave me a renewed sense of hope. "You did? And it doesn't involve swimming?"
"No, but it does involve some climbing," he explained, shoving the potion back into his coat pocket. "Luckily it's a fairly stable path of debris that'll lead us out to where the boat is docked."
"Too bad we didn't know about it when we arrived," I lamented.
"It was crawling with fiends. I would've advised against it. But since I had time to kill waiting for you to return, I used it wisely to clear them out."
Grateful for his aid, I offered him an appreciative bow. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. We need to hurry if you're worried about lover boy coming to search for you."
Those words elevated my pulse into a rapid flutter. "Why? What's happened?"
"The sky has begun to lighten."
I'd been gone all night!? Oh no…
"Let's go." Swiftly leading me out by the hand, Auron rushed over to the opposite side of the foyer and down another corridor that led outside to a narrow pile of rubble that took the form of a winding path up the side of the temple. "With how you've been feeling, I would strongly advise keeping a firm grip on my hand."
I gave my guardian a sure nod and carefully followed him from behind with my hand securely in his.
Just as Auron had mentioned, the black, moonless sky had lightened into an inky-blue.
Terrible thoughts had begun to invade my mind. I imagined Tidus had already climbed into his dinghy and was rowing like a madman out to the rift.
"We need to go faster!"
Auron cast a sharp glance over his shoulder at me. "Have you ever heard the story about the tortoise and the hare?"
"That tortoise didn't have an impulsive fiancé to worry about!"
"Have you forgotten you're with child?" he returned, continuing to carefully lead the way up the debris.
"I haven't. But if anything happens to Tidus then this child won't exist."
"We'll make it out of Spira before dawn. You have my word."
Winning an argument with the legendary guardian was not something I'd ever thought would happen. But this whole situation involving time travel was anything but normal.
Just then, my foot slipped on some loose rubble. I gasped and tightened my grip on Auron, whose lightning-quick reflexes had me up against the side of the temple and out of harm's way in a matter of seconds.
"Are you alright?"
I momentarily shut my eyes and released a trembling breath. "I… I think so."
"Still insistent upon rushing forward?"
Feeling like a child who'd just been scolded by their father, I looked away and pursed my lips to the side, before finally relenting and answering with a slow sweep of my head.
"Come…" He gently tugged on my arm. "We're almost there."
It was just as Auron had promised. The path of rubble led us out to where the boat had been docked on the eastern side of the temple. And it really hadn't taken us very long to get there.
But the sky was beginning to lighten even more with violet streaks fanning across the horizon. Knowing my beloved the way I did, he was probably starting to panic. And that almost always led to trouble.
"Get in," Auron commanded, gesturing to the dinghy that'd been pulled up onto the debris. "I'll push it into the water once you're inside."
Complying with his demand, I stepped into the boat and took a seat, my breaths growing labored like before. And I was unsure if it was Materia's spell continuing to wreak havoc, or my rising anxiety about what Tidus might be doing at that moment.
The boat slid into the water, dipping slightly then bobbing up when Auron rather gracefully leapt inside.
Once he'd gotten situated, my guardian grabbed the ores and used them to turn the boat in the direction of the rift, then began to row us out toward it.
"You can relax now," he insisted. "We'll be in Zanarkand before long."
I acknowledged him with a nod and kept my eyes steady on the rippling wall, gleaming under the aurora overhead.
That's when I noticed something rather alarming. The aurora's brilliant, aqua lights had begun to dim.
At first, I'd thought it'd been my eyes playing tricks on me, or maybe it had something to do with dawn approaching. But as I continued to study the lights, they'd dimmed even more. My stomach plummeted. The aurora was beginning to fade, and the ripping wall along with it.
I gasped and covered my mouth in horror, realizing what that meant.
"What is it!?"
"The rift is closing!"
Auron peered over his shoulder to confirm, then resumed rowing the dingy toward our destination, his arms now moving at a rapid, steady pace like I'd never seen before.
"We'll make it. You have my word."
Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, a giant squid-like fiend sprang out of the ocean at that moment, sending water splashing in every direction and all over us in the process.
"Dammit!" Auron cursed, dropping the ores in favor of his katana.
The monstrous fiend let out a piercing squeal, slapping the water with its tentacles in a fit of rage.
Standing in the dinghy with his katana drawn, Auron glanced over at the fading rift then down at me with a feral look in his eye. "Swim like you never swam before!"
"But…"
"I don't need that rift to enter Zanarkand. But you do, or your life is over. Now go! Go—now!"
Heart pounding, I drew in a deep breath and dove off the boat into the dark waters.
I had to make it through. I just had to. Why was this happening? Why did everything just seem to go wrong? No matter what I did, I felt like everything and everyone was against me.
My veins ignited into a blazing fury. I was just so…angry! I was angry at everyone. Auron for not getting me out to the rift sooner, Tidus for giving me a time limit, Materia for cursing me with an illness the longer I remained in there, the fayth for making me feel guilty and placing Spira's fate in my hands yet again, Shinra for inventing that disastrous time machine that sent me there in the first place, and Rikku for not destroying that stupid thing the first time around.
That searing rage continued to pump through me, fueling my every stroke and every kick. I wanted to scream. I wanted to scream real loud for everyone to hear. And for everyone to know that I'd finally hit my breaking point. What little sanity I had left was beginning to slip away. Did it even matter if I was going to die anyway?
A tingling jolt suddenly shot throughout my body. Startled by the encounter, I'd gasped and accidentally swallowed some water, forcing me to break to the surface, choking, spatting, and gasping for air.
"Yuna!"
That voice…
Before I could form a coherent thought, a strong pair of arms lifted me out of the water and into what appeared to be another boat.
"Yuna!"
My beloved's gorgeous face came into view, hovering over me, brows knit in distress and eyes gleaming with unshed tears.
"Tidus…?"
"I thought…" his voice caught with emotion, those tears finally spilling from his eyes and down his flushed cheeks. "I thought I'd lost you forever." He then gathered me into his arms and held me close, sucking back a loud sniffle.
From the unmistakable skyline across the lake, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief, knowing I'd made it back to Dream Zanarkand. And considering how close Tidus had been to where the rift had been located, just in the nick-of-time it would seem.
"I promised to return to you, didn't I?"
"Yeah well… You almost didn't make it." Drawing back, Tidus brushed the wet strands of hair out of my face and issued a tight smile. "The rift's gone now, y'know?"
"I know…"
"And I thought you were gone too, until I saw you spring outta the water." Sucking back another sniffle, he wiped the tears off his cheeks and released a trembling breath. "I, uh… I was gonna cross through, but I remembered what you'd said—about me being our only chance if something happened to ya. So, I fought my impulses. I wanted us to be together, Yuna—you, me, and our child in the future. I want that—more than anything. Even if that meant us being separated for now, I'd do whatever it took to secure our future together. I'd do it for us." He then pressed a tender kiss to my forehead and gave me a vibrant smile. "I'm so glad you're here and I don't have to worry about that, now."
Suddenly I found myself buried in an avalanche of guilt. The deal I'd made with Materia…it was set in stone now, or in this case—Tidus' soul. My stomach twisted with dread. That Farplane energy had to work on the module now. It just had to.
My beloved's brow creased with concern. "Hey—where's Auron?"
"Oh, um…" Tilting my head to the side, I thought about how to respond and bit back a smirk. "He's busy making sushi out of a giant squid that attacked us."
"You serious?" Tidus blinked in surprise.
"Mhm… Don't worry about Auron. He'll make it back here in one piece."
"Yeah, I guess he doesn't need a rift to travel, huh?"
"No, he certainly doesn't."
"So… Didya get whatcha were looking for?"
Glancing down at the pouch around my waist, I unzipped it to retrieve the vial, and held it up in triumph as the sun broke over the horizon in a brilliant glow.
"That's it!?" Tidus drew back and frowned, seeming unimpressed at the bright, aqua-colored substance swirling in the glass tube. "I sure hope it does whatcha want it to."
"It has to." Suddenly, a strange humming sound caught my ear. And I glanced over at my beloved to see if he'd heard it as well. "Do… Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"That…eerie humming?"
The look he threw my way was something I'd expect to receive if I'd somehow morphed into a hypello. "Mmm… It's been a long night, Yuna. Think we need to getcha inside and into bed, so you can get some rest."
"I… I suppose you're right." Stuffing the vial back into the pouch, I zipped it up then got comfortable, while Tidus grabbed the ores and proceeded to row us out toward the houseboat.
The humming continued though. It was distant and muffled now. Thankfully it'd stopped just before we reached the docks. I was beginning to think the energy in that vial was trying to communicate with me.
I breathed a laugh at the silly notion. Something like that would be impossible…wouldn't it?
Note: For all of those versed in Dissidia, I used Materia in regards to the ending of Dissidia NT, due to the unresolved story-line in Opera Omnia. But the story centred around Yuna and Materia in this fic is heavily based on the events in Opera Omnia. Hopefully that's not too confusing. If you haven't played either Dissidia game then...well, you're probably less confused at this point than those who did. Yeah...I'm gonna stop there. Hopefully everyone understood and enjoyed this chapter.