A/N: I apologize for the long delay. Life's unexpected bumps along with a severe case of writer's block will do that. Hopefully, the chapter was worth the wait. Only three more to go.

Chapter 12: Lost Lineage

It'd been two weeks since our visit to A-East where that unsent alchemist had infused the module with Spira's life-force. Two weeks of me staring at the palm-sized device and trying to will the energy flowing through it to do…something…anything! Two weeks of Auron and Tidus urging me to not lose hope. But the truth was, I already had several days ago.

Granted, Zeltic had mentioned it could take some time for the Farplane energy to activate the module. But I was certain that hinged upon whether or not the main device was still busted in the future. Then again, I suppose it could be something else entirely.

Maybe he should've used all of the contents inside the vial instead of only half. When I'd asked him why he hadn't used the entire sample, Zeltic insisted the energy was too potent to be used on such a small device, and it would almost certainly cause it to short-circuit. I wasn't sure what to believe anymore. And honestly, it didn't really matter at this point.

Could've, would've, should've—my regrets weren't going to change anything. I was staring down the barrel of a loaded gun, knowing it was about to go off. Unless I could find a way to get the module to work soon, my unborn child and I would perish next weekend in a dream that was set to turn into a horrific nightmare.

"Yuna…?"

Tidus' voice beckoned me out of my grim reverie. Setting the module down onto the nightstand, I turned to face my beloved as he sat next to me on the edge of the bed, lips pulled into a tight smile.

"Still nothing, huh?"

I replied with only a slow sweep of my head.

"Well, don't worry." He then flashed me his best grin. "You'll get it to work. I know you will."

Those words seemed forced as though he didn't really believe them…or want to. And I suppose it was to be expected, since he was clearly still struggling with the inevitable. Not that I could blame him. It would be much worse though if he knew about Materia's spell and what was truly at stake.

"It's getting late, Yuna. We should eat. Do you want me to order in?"

"I'm not very hungry."

"Yuna… You need to eat. And not just for yourself."

Releasing a dejected sigh, I rubbed my brow and admitted in a low voice, "I suppose you're right."

"Y'know… If that device doesn't start working soon, we still got Plan B," his tone took an upbeat turn and was laden with confidence. "It's not ideal—I get it. But it's not the end of the world, y'know? I'll make sure you don't go anywhere near that time machine. All you gotta do is tell me what I need to know about the future that I don't already know. I promise you, Yuna—I won't screw things up. But you gotta trust me."

Those unfettered emotions of mine began to tighten around my throat. Tidus still had no idea about the deal I'd made with that goddess—another decision I was beginning to sorely regret. And I honestly had no intention of telling him either. There was no Plan B…not anymore.

"You do trust me, right?"

I gave a terse nod and looked away, blinking back the tears stinging my eyes, hoping he hadn't noticed them.

"Hey, I gotcha something that might cheer ya up!"

Inhaling deeply, I glanced his way and caught him reaching for something near the foot of the bed. He then offered me a vibrant smile and presented me with a blue, mid-sized gift bag.

"I, uh… I hope you like it. It's kinda for…well, you'll see."

I peered down into the bag and leafed through the white tissue paper, curious as to what lay beneath it all. Part of me expected to find some sexy piece of lingerie for me to wear, setting the mood for a steamy encounter he'd planned for later. But instead, I found something sweet and sentimental and…completely unexpected.

"Well… Whaddaya think?"

A fluffy, tawny-colored teddy bear sat at the bottom of the bag, sporting a replica of Tidus' blitzball uniform, his winning grin, and a flaxen tuft of hair on its head.

"Omigosh…" I giggled and pulled out the soft, plush toy, setting it securely on my lap. The tears I'd been fighting earlier finally spilled over, trickling down my cheeks in a pair of wet lines. "He's…perfect."

"I used to cringe every time I saw one of those in a store. Kinda found it weird being made into a stuffed bear and all but... Seeing it again made me think about our kid, y'know? I thought maybe our son or daughter would like to have somethin' to snuggle with that resembled their old man—for when I'm away at a tournament or somethin' like that."

Another lump formed in my throat, unsure if this child of ours even stood a chance at being born now.

"I had another thought as well," he continued in a guarded tone. "Plan B involves me going to Spira and you staying here during the beginning of...well, y'know. I'm not exactly sure how all that would work but… I do know that I'll fix things, Yuna! And you'll be transported back to the future that way!

"So, in the minutes leading up to that happening—if it does go down that way—I wantcha to get somewhere safe and hold onto that bear, knowing I'll getcha outta there and we'll be together again. In a way, he's kinda like my promise to you that we'll have a future together no matter what. We're gonna be one big happy family, Yuna—I promise!"

Choking back a sob, I turned away and silently cursed myself for not being able to control my emotions better.

"Hey…" Tidus pressed a loving hand against my cheek then gently turned my head to meet his tender gaze. "Don't cry. Trust me, I won't fail us. Besides, Auron's gonna be right there with me. Do you really think he'll allow me to screw this up? He'll be on my ass the whole time. And I'll be grateful. See Yuna, we got this!"

Seeking comfort in his arms, I buried my face against his shoulder and sucked in a shaky breath. Neither of them would be able to do anything when the time came. Materia's spell would make sure of that. My only hope now was to find a way to harness these Mystic powers that'd awakened inside me a couple weeks ago. And with little to no guidance on the matter, I was in desperate need of a miracle.

"We're gonna be alright. I just know we will. I can feel it in my—"

Just then, the houseboat rumbled and shook.

Tidus and I quickly drew back from our embrace and exchanged a worried glance.

The room was now swaying a little, threatening to send my stomach into an intense churn. Then, there was a dip and what felt like a bob immediately after. It was almost as though we'd set sail all of a sudden and were navigating through a tumultuous storm.

Holding me steady by the shoulders, Tidus cocked his head and winced as though he were straining to hear something. "That's odd. I could've sworn I heard—"

"We're under attack!" Auron now stood in our bedroom doorway, brandishing Tidus' red and silver sword, brow drawn low into a determined frown. "Prepare for battle." He then tossed the weapon over to my beloved, who'd caught it perfectly in one hand.

"Attack!?" I echoed almost in disbelief. "From what?"

"We'll know more once we're out on deck."

Standing from the bed, Tidus pulled me up with him and skewered the legendary guardian with a glance. "Dontcha think we should be better prepared than that!? And how do you know we're under attack if you haven't even scanned the deck yet?"

"I'm an unsent, or have you forgotten? We have a keen sense of when fiends are lurking nearby or…other anomalies."

A ghastly shriek came from somewhere outside at that moment, causing us all to cringe, and the very haul of the houseboat to vibrate from the shrill sound.

"We must act now, unless you want this boat to end up on the ocean floor."

"Okay, okay," Tidus conceded. "Geez… Lead the way."

Abandoning the teddy bear on the bed among the pillows, I quickly followed my guardians to whatever it was that awaited us out on deck.

This was one of those times where I wish I had more than just my magic to rely on. When Tidus and I had left for Djose that dreadful day, I didn't think to grab my pistols or even a decent garment grid out of the nightstand before rushing out of our home. Rikku had sent Buddy and Brother to fetch us in the Celsius, so it's not like we'd needed to worry about running into any fiends along the way. If I had only known what was going to happen back then…

I groaned and gave my head a shake, ridding my mind of such negative thoughts. The last thing I needed right now was to wallow in regret. Whatever lurked outside that houseboat had come for me. And I needed to be ready for anything it threw my way.

The moment we charged out on deck, we were struck by a blast of gale-force winds mixed with the cool mist of sea water, almost knocking us off our feet.

"Holy crap!" Tidus balked then stumbled back a step, eyes huge at whatever had caught his attention. "Is that…her—the dead chick!?"

Once I'd managed to regain my balance, I followed my lover's stunned gaze and felt my blood chill.

Hovering before us over the ocean, bathed in the pale light of the full-moon, was a youthful-looking woman, holding a silver harp with a set of massive, golden wings stemming out of her head. Blonde tresses flowed down her hourglass figure that was barely covered by the sections of feathers fanned across her otherwise naked form.

This unique being—she matched the description of an ancient summon I'd only heard about in stories as a child. A summon that mages feared more than any other.

"Siren…" I breathed in astonishment.

Tossing a bewildered look my way, Tidus queried, "Who?"

"An ancient summon that was once rumored to be a myth," Auron jumped in to explain, katana drawn and aimed at the creature. "One that can charm its enemies and block the energy needed for mages to cast spells."

"Whaddaya mean by charm?"

"It means she can manipulate you into fighting us," I interjected. "If you peer into her eyes for too long, she'll get inside your head."

"You'll be her puppet," Auron added. "So keep your head low to resist being drawn in."

"Roger!" Suddenly, Tidus' expression grew fretful. "Well, what about Yuna? She can't use magic, right?"

Auron cast a quick glance my way. "He's right. You should head inside. We'll handle this."

That wasn't going to happen. There had to be something else on this garment grid other than my songstress dressphere. I couldn't have been that careless. With a disgruntled huff, I hit the button on the belt fastened around my waist and hoped for the best.

A bright light engulfed my body then quickly faded, leaving me standing in a red, white and blue bikini top with a matching skirt and sleeves. Two rather large daggers appeared in each of my hands—the cold, heavy steel, bringing a satisfied smile to my lips.

Yes! Thief! I'll take it!

Both men peered over at me with one brow raised.

"Looks like I'll be fighting after all!" I beamed, shifting into a battle stance.

"That one of your…dressphere thingys?"

"Mhm…" I couldn't help but smirk at the way Tidus was gawking at me just then. At least this would prevent his eyes from wandering over to that summon. But he still needed to concentrate. This was his first real fight. And I was very nervous about it to be honest.

"Keep a level head," Auron warned Tidus with a paternal nudge to his shoulder. At that moment, the summon unleashed a piercing shriek and dove toward us. "It comes!"

Dodging the attack with a swift dive of my own, I slid underneath the mystical creature, rolled onto my back, and swung my arms above, one-by-one slashing the flesh on its torso with the daggers in hand and spilling that golden essence I'd only seen come out of an aeon.

The ancient summon released a high-pitched wail then flew up in an aerial roll, only to plunge down right after and swipe a claw at my beloved.

Tidus skillfully leapt out of the way then charged forward, bringing his sword down onto one of Siren's legs, tearing a long gash into the side of her calf, and earning a shrill cry that made my eardrums throb.

"Ha! You're not so tough!"

Since my lover was too busy gloating, he'd failed to keep his eyes on the summon after it flew up to collect itself. And now, it was barreling straight at him from above.

"Look out!" Auron hollered.

Those massive golden wings swooped down in front of the man I loved, blocking his view. Then, like a bullet ejected from the barrel of a gun, Siren shot forth, knocking Tidus flat onto his back.

That vile creature now had him pinned down with one claw.

"No! Don't look into her eyes!" With my heart in my throat, I charged at the summon, ready to come to my lover's rescue.

But Auron had beaten me to the punch, swinging his katana in a long, sweeping stroke. The blade effortlessly sliced through Siren's wrist and severed off the claw she used to hold onto her harp.

A high-pitched screech echoed in the air. The vicious summon had now set her sights on Auron, and had quickly abandoned my lover in pursuit of her new prey.

All of a sudden the ocean waves intensified, causing the houseboat to rock even more.

Just as I approached my beloved, who'd managed to climb to his feet, I lost my balance to the unsteady conditions and landed hard on my side.

"Whoa, hang on!" Tidus bounded over to where I'd fallen, latched onto my arm, and pulled me up. "You alright?" he asked, steadying me by the shoulders.

Returning his concerned gaze with a firm nod, I drew back and scanned the area for my other guardian.

Auron had managed to lure Siren all the way to the upper deck, where he gracefully dodged her every attack as though it were the steps to an old dance he'd known well. But the tempo had changed the moment he swung Masamune and tore a deep gash into the summon's midsection.

That trusty old katana of his had somehow gotten lodged in her flesh, bringing his calculated movements to an abrupt halt, and unfortunately, providing Siren with the perfect opportunity to snatch him up by the throat.

"C'mon!" I urged Tidus, charging into battle. "We need to help him!"

By the time we'd reached the top of the stairs, it was already too late. Auron carefully slid the steel blade out of Siren's midsection, his undamaged eye swirling with malice as it peered over the top of those famous shades squarely at us.

"Careful," I warned, blocking my lover from advancing with an arm. "He's been charmed."

"Great," Tidus groused. "We gotta fight both of them now!?"

Just then, Auron unleashed a wild cry, raised his katana above his head and rocketed over to me, only to be met with a clash of steel. The blade from Tidus' sword had swooped down in front of me and blocked Auron's katana with a loud clang.

"I got mister grumpy pants," Tidus assured through clenched teeth. "You take care of bird brain!"

To be honest, I was very uneasy about leaving Tidus to fight Auron alone. This wasn't one of their sparring sessions. That summon had control of Auron now. And he wasn't going to stop until Tidus took his last breath.

Fortunately, all it would take for Auron to snap out of his trance was to finish off that blasted summon. And judging from the newly created gash in her midsection, along with her severed claw, it wouldn't take much more to complete the task.

A summon, however, was unlike any other living creature. They were magical beings, which made them harder to kill as a result. All of my battles against one had been fierce and intense. But I'd always had my magic to rely on…unlike now.

The clang of heavy steel sobered my thoughts.

Springing into action, I lunged at the winged-woman, leapt into the air and slashed her forearm with each of my daggers. Then, upon my descent, I turned my body to the left and prepared to deliver the final blow to her chest, just to be blasted by a spell and tossed through the air.

I landed hard against the railing and slumped to the floor, stunned by the attack. For some reason, I believed this summon was incapable of casting offensive magic. Apparently, I was wrong.

"Yuna!" My beloved's frantic voice caught my ear. I blinked several times, attempting to clear my blurred vision.

When I finally caught sight of Tidus, he seemed to be struggling to fend off Auron's attacks. Every parry and counter was accompanied by a strained grunt. And from how he kept peering over at me, it was obvious as to why he was having such a difficult time.

"I'm fine!" I hollered. "Don't lose focus!"

That was a lie—one I hope he'd bought. Truth was; every part of my body felt like it'd been set on fire. I wasn't sure what spell I'd been hit with, but I was now very worried for my unborn child.

Determined to rid this summon once and for all, I staggered to my feet with a grunt, just in time to dodge another windy blast from that winged-demon.

It'd become increasingly difficult to find an opening for an attack now that the summon had switched to a magical offensive. I was far too busy dodging her barrage of aeroga spells to do anything else.

Dash to the left! Dive to the right! Leap into the air! I hadn't been in a battle this intense since Vegnagun. And I honestly couldn't recall being this exhausted either.

Somehow, I'd managed to get lucky with her casting losing some of its momentum. Grateful for the brief reprieve, I stole a glance over at my beloved to see how he was fairing. And by the looks of things—not too well.

"Whoa—hey gimmie a break!" Tidus' inexperience in battle had once again proven to be almost deadly with him barely escaping what would have been a lethal wound to the chest if it weren't for him tripping over Siren's severed claw and stumbling back.

The legendary guardian managed to still capitalize on Tidus' blunder though. After a few parries and a quick flick of his wrist, Auron knocked Tidus' sword out of his hand with Masamune's blade.

Time was running out. If I didn't end this winged-demon now, I would have to watch my future being torn asunder by a possessed version of a man, who I'd come to love as a second father.

Ready to put an end to all of this, I turned to confront the vile creature, noting the wicked grin now plastered on her pale face.

Suddenly, I couldn't move. No… I hadn't looked her in the eye! Why was this happening!?

"C'mon Auron, snap out of it!" I heard Tidus shout, before another clang of metal cut through the air.

Oh, thank goodness. He'd managed to retrieve his sword. But that still didn't help me out of my predicament.

Anxiety swelled inside my chest, growing more intense with each passing second. No matter how much I tried to move my limbs, I couldn't. My pulse quickened along with my breaths. I was starting to panic. And that was the last thing I needed.

Just as Siren closed in on me and raised her claw, the gash in her midsection ripped open into a large orifice, splattering that golden essence in every direction.

A shrill cry penetrated through the crisp, night air and echoed around the marina.

Still paralyzed, I stood watching in absolute shock as Siren's human-like form got torn in half by some invisible force. Those amber eyes of hers were wide in horror, mouth gaped open in a silent agony from her stolen breaths. Before long, the summon's pale face was split in half, her dismembered body dissolving into a plume of pyreflies.

The winds and waves finally stilled along with my heart.

What…just happened? I'd never witnessed such a horrific end to an aeon before. Yes, it'd been sent to kill me but… Watching its torturous death had honestly made me feel ill inside. The excruciating pain it must've experienced… I wouldn't have wished that upon my worst enemy.

The rapid patter of footsteps pierced through my troubled thoughts. I turned and found both Auron and Tidus rushing to my side, a disconcerting frown marring their face.

"Are you okay?" Tidus gripped my shoulders and searched my eyes for an honest answer.

Finally able to move, I dropped the daggers and hugged my arms. "I… I think so…"

Auron, no longer under Siren's spell, gave me a regretful nod. "I…let my guard down." He then bowed his head in apology. "Forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive," I assured him. "Your weapon had gotten lodged in the enemy during battle. No one could've planned for something like that."

"What happened to that thing anyway?" Tidus broke in, brow dipped low in confusion. "Were you suddenly able to use magic?"

"No… I… I was paralyzed. I'm not sure what happened to be honest."

"We need to be guarded then," Auron advised in a grave tone, gaze carefully inspecting our surroundings. "What happened to that summon wasn't natural."

With a huff, Tidus folded his arms, seeming both tired and annoyed. "Yeah well, it's dead now, so that's all that matters."

"Hmph… That's a fool's notion," Auron chided. "You still have much to learn."

He was right. My beloved was lacking some fundamental skills he'd acquired on my pilgrimage that'd made him an exceptional guardian. Sometimes I forgot that this younger version of my fiancé hadn't gone through all the trials and tribulations that his future-self had. It was one of the reasons why I was missing home more and more each day.

Seeming irritated by Auron's admonishment, Tidus poked his tongue against the inside of his cheek and breathed a humorless laugh. "So, where'd that summon come from anyway?"

"My guess would be Yevon," Auron answered, shifting his attention over to me. "This is the second one he's sent now. You must pose a credible threat to his and Yunalesca's plans."

"I'm not sure how, unless it has to do with me being a Mystic."

"I'm certain that's a big part of it. But there are other things we must consider. Come…" Auron gestured down to the lower level with a cock of head. "We should head inside. We need to tend to our wounds and Yuna should see that doctor of yours," he mentioned to Tidus in a sideways glance.

"Yeah that spell hit you pretty hard." Those cerulean depths of his were now brimming with worry. "We need to make sure you and the baby are okay."

"It's strange… When I'd been struck by that spell, I was in sheer agony," I confessed, absently running a hand over my lower abdomen. "It felt like my entire body had been set on fire. But, right now…I feel fine. It doesn't make sense, I know."

"Still, you should see a doctor and make sure," Auron insisted to which Tidus nodded in agreement.

"I suppose… Better safe than—"

The wooden deck had suddenly disappeared underneath my feet. And in the blink of an eye, everything and everyone was gone. The world around me had…vanished.

I was alone, plummeting into darkness. My breaths stolen... Heart lurching into my throat... The far corners of my mind were screaming, since I no longer had a voice. Screaming for an answer as to what was happening to me and why.

Just when I'd thought I'd somehow died, the plummeting sensation stopped. Oxygen returned to my lungs. And the area lit up in a bright sea of aqua-colored lights, twisting and weaving through the air in long, winding streams.

The humming… The buzzing… It was so…loud! Then came all the whispers—none of which I could discern.

I slapped my hands over my ears and cringed, feeling as though I were about to go completely insane. That's when I saw her, and all the noise ceased.

Gracefully emerging out of the energy stream—with her platinum locks flowing around her all but naked form—was none other than Lady Yunalesca.

"Welcome child," she greeted, gesturing to all the energy swirling around the darkened space. "Welcome to Spira's Lifestream."

"Lifestream?" I echoed, confused.

"The pulse of Spira."

An unnerving feeling settled upon me. Several theories began to swim around inside my head as to how I'd gotten there. And I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the answer.

"Am… Am I in the Farplane?"

"No, child, you are deep underneath the Farplane where the very essence of Spira flows—the heart of the planet, if you will. And it is just bursting with energy. So much so, it has leaked out onto the surface where it has been beckoning us for a very long time."

Beckoning us? Underneath the Farplane? I wasn't quite prepared for that piece of information…or what it implied.

"Did…I die?"

"No, child, you are very much alive."

There was a rush of relief with her simple answer. But that still begged the question… "Then…how did I get here and…why am I here?"

"You are here because I summoned you here. I am the reason you are still alive."

That uneasy feeling I'd been having started to grow more intense. "I'm… I'm not sure I understand."

"You don't believe that summon tore itself in half now, do you?"

My stomach coiled. "You… You killed it!?"

"But of course."

"But…why?"

"Would you rather I hadn't intervened and allowed it to kill you instead?"

"Is that not what you ultimately want?"

"Why would I want you to perish?"

"Because I stand in the way of what you and your father wish to achieve."

"You could not be more wrong," her tone grew dark and had an edge of bitterness to it. "My goals have never aligned with my father's. His obsession for his beloved city of Zanarkand had surpassed all rational thought. He believed he could will his dream into becoming reality one day."

And he probably would've succeeded in time, since both Tidus and Jecht had become two real souls who'd escaped that dream. But I didn't voice my thoughts. Instead, I remained quiet and allowed for her to continue.

"A thousand years wasted, trying to appease him by fuelling his idealistic fantasies. Spira doesn't need a rebirth of any kind. No… Spira needs eternal rest."

Those words sent a chill right down my spine. I shivered and hugged my arms, unsure if I wanted her to elaborate on what I already suspected to be her end game.

"So, you want to annihilate Spira because your father didn't love you as much as he loved Zanarkand?"

Yunalesca's steely gaze narrowed at me in contempt, sending my pulse into a rapid flutter. Drawing attention to her insecurities probably wasn't a wise decision. But I honestly couldn't wrap my head around her childish motives.

"You fail to see the picture in its entirety, child. Spira will always be nothing more than an endless cycle of torment. It is better to erase it and end all suffering than for it to go on."

"You're wrong," I refuted. "There are so many wonderful things in Spira that you choose not to see. This world is not just death and destruction, but full of life and love."

"Life ends in death and love is merely an illusion."

"That's not true," I disagreed with a slow sweep of my head. "Love is very real. Did you not love your husband? Your bond had to be strong enough in order for him to be made into a fayth."

"The bond required to make a fayth doesn't always require love. My marriage to Lord Zaon had been arranged by my father for political gain, similar to how your marriage to Lord Seymour had been. All that was needed was a bond. That bond never needed to be emotional. It could've been purely physical in nature."

And my stomach clenched just thinking about it. Suddenly that uncomfortable conversation Tidus and I had that evening at the Mi'ihan Travelodge entered my mind. My fiancé had been right. That twisted Guado would've expected something the night of our wedding. We would've needed to…consummate the marriage in order for him to be made into a fayth. And there's no way in hell I would've agreed to that.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I gave my head a shake, ridding the disturbing images from my mind.

"Regardless," she continued with a dismissive wave of her hand, "my feelings do not matter in the end."

"How so, when they're what's driving your rage to destroy Spira in the first place?"

"None of this is fueled by my emotions. It is what the planet wants. I just happen to agree with it."

"What…?" I breathed, baffled by her answer.

"Do you feel that, child?" Yunalesca gestured to several of the glowing lights twisting around us. "All that pristine energy? That is the power of the planet. Power only Mystics like us can understand. The planet is crying out in pain. It yearns for release."

I didn't need to feel anything at that point to know this woman was completely out of her mind.

"You think the planet wants you to destroy it!?"

"It wants us to end its suffering. The very essence of it will be safely preserved within the sacred vessels of the last two surviving Mystics."

So, that's why she wanted me alive... A fiery rage pulsed through my veins. Squeezing my hands into fists, I fought to control my emotions from erupting into a spell that would likely be deflected back at me.

"You really think I'll help you with such madness!? This is a culling of everyone and everything in Spira!"

"This is a harvest," she corrected in an apathetic tone. "And Spira is ripe for the picking. This is the burden we must carry as Mystics."

"I may not know much about being a Mystic, but I'm pretty sure absorbing a planet isn't what we're meant to do!"

"You disappoint me, Lady Yuna. I would've thought you of all people would want to do what is best for Spira."

"You're right. I do want what's best for Spira. And I'll defend this planet and everyone in it from you and your psychotic plans!"

"You know very well you cannot defeat me. You'll fail and die. Is that the thanks I get for saving you from my father's wrath?"

"Your… Your father?! So, it's true then. Yevon has been the one behind the attacks. But why…? If he's not working with you then what does he gain from my death?"

"If I told you the reason, then you would no longer be of any use to me."

Now I was completely confused. What information did Yevon have? And did I even want to know what it was?

Continuing to stand with my fists clenched at my sides, I hollered, "I'm of no use to you anyway! I refuse to aid you in this lunacy!"

"Don't be a fool. I'm presenting you with the opportunity to live forever as my equal. Together, we'll traverse the universe, liberating other planets from sorrow and despair."

It was at that moment when I finally realized how truly broken this woman had become from whatever had happened to her during her mortal life. My tone then softened into one of empathy. "You are so lost and…empty inside. I… I feel sorry for you. I really do."

"My child, it is you who I truly feel sorry for."

Just then, several winding streams of Spira's life-force wound around my frame then shot into my body.

"Arrghhh!" I dropped to my knees from the searing pain pulsing through my nerves. Pressing a hand against my abdomen, I thought about my unborn child and whether or not they'd survive this kind of trauma. When I'd first touched Spira's life-force in the Farplane, it hadn't felt like this. I'd been filled with adrenaline, not this…this physical torment. "Stop! Please!"

"The planet wants you to feel its pain. Only then will you finally understand and be willing to give it the peace it demands."

"The planet's not doing this! You are!"

There was no reasoning with this deranged lunatic. If I wanted to survive this, I needed to find a way to control the Lifestream coursing through me. But the pain… The pain was…excruciating! It felt like a heavy pressure had ballooned inside me and began to pierce through every one of my organs.

Hot tears escaped my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. I had to focus. There had to be some way to do this.

Just when I thought things couldn't get much worse, the buzzing returned and penetrated through my already clouded thoughts. At this rate, I was certain I was going to die. In fact, I was in so much agony that I welcomed it.

Then, suddenly, a gentle voice broke through all the chaos thundering inside my head.

Your heart. Listen to your heart, Yuna. Let love guide you.

Father…?

That soothing voice from my childhood gave me the strength and guidance I'd so desperately needed.

Love had always been my strength and the essence of all creation. So, I concentrated on that. All the love I had for my friends, my family, my future husband, and our unborn child.

Finally, the pressure inside me began to ease, sending a tingling sensation straight down my arms to my fingertips.

I snapped open my eyes to witness the glowing Lifestream that'd invaded my body retreat out of my palms and head straight for that white-haired demon.

With a wave of her hand, the winding, energy streams deflected and changed course, returning to the rest of the Lifestream in an elegant arch.

"You cannot defeat me, child. It is pointless to try."

Panting from exhaustion, I staggered to my feet, wobbling as I prepared to address my adversary. "I'll find a way."

"Your resolve is admirable, but futile, nonetheless. This is one battle you cannot win."

Even though I refused to admit it, I knew she was right. It took almost everything in me to direct the Lifestream out of my body. I had no idea what it would take to defeat an advanced Mystic like her. And then, there was also the problem with time itself.

"You'll perish in this dream long before Spira meets its inevitable end. This is my final offer, child. Leave behind all this pathetic mortal strife and join me in becoming the goddess you were meant to be."

"A goddess of destruction?" I vehemently shook my head. "I think I'll pass." But as I spoke those words, something suddenly occurred to me. "Wait… You're from the future, aren't you?"

"A future you'll never return to."

All the venom spewing from her lips had me struggling to control the storm brewing inside me. But I refused to allow my emotions to rule over my interrogation of her and the hope it may bring.

"A Mystic can time travel?"

"Not in the way you hope. It is akin to peering through a looking-glass."

"Then…how are we here, together?"

"It appears that we are, but we are not." The ancient summoner stepped forward and poked at the air in front, lighting up what had been an invisible barrier from her touch, before fading into darkness once again. "You are simply on the other side of the looking-glass."

"But…how?" Tilting my head to the side, I fixated on the area she'd touched and scrunched my face, trying to piece everything together. "How were you able to attack me?"

"Unlike us, the Lifestream is not constrained by time."

All this cryptic talk was beginning to weigh on my last nerve. "So, the barrier only exists between you and me?"

"That is correct. We cannot have any physical contact here, unless we enter the same time. The Lifestream and its powers, however, are a different story—they have no boundaries. It was how I was able to intervene and destroy that summon."

"So how do you do it? How'd you learn how to pull someone through time?"

"The process was explained to me when I was child…by my father." There was a glint of humanity in her eyes when she spoke those words, suggesting there hadn't always been such a rift between the two. "An advanced Mystic can reach out through time to another practicing Mystic, but only one that they're connected to."

Wait… What?! "And how are you connected to me?"

"That is a very good question, child. Are you certain you are prepared for the answer?"

My blood chilled. "What are you saying?"

"Zaon and I were married a little more than a year before the Machina War—a marriage arranged by my father in a futile attempt to unite Zanarkand and Bevelle. At the height of the war, Zaon and I managed to escape Zanarkand and fled to Mount Gagazet. It was there where we learned about my father's creation of Sin. Together, Zaon and I formulated a plan to temporarily rid Spira of my father's abomination through the final summoning ritual. But before it could be done, we had one crucial matter that needed to be resolved."

"Which was?" I interjected, anxious of the answer.

"Knowing what we had to do in order to perform the final summoning, we entrusted our only child—our son, Ezil—in the care of the Ronso."

That sinking feeling I had morphed into a steep plummet. She couldn't have been suggesting… No… No, it couldn't be true. There'd never been any record of Lord Zaon and Lady Yunalesca having a child.

"The Ronso had no idea how to care for a human infant. So, they took Ezil to the monks living on the outskirts of Bevelle. There he grew into a fine, young man, unaware of who his biological parents were.

"Every-so-often I'd leave the stadium where I perished to keep a watchful eye on him, and every descendent of his thereafter, curious as to how my progeny had evolved. Many of them chose the same path as I had, to become a summoner and to give Spira hope."

Stunned by what she'd revealed, my mouth gaped open in absolute shock and disgust. No… I was related to this… This monster!?

"You knew this and still you allowed it to happen each time? You let many of your descendants die believing a lie—that they might finally be able to vanquish Sin!? Love really is only an illusion to you, because you're incapable of possessing such an emotion!"

"Emotions get in the way. It is why many of our kind had met an untimely end. You are the only one of my descendants to discover their true origins—their power as a sacred Mystic. And yet, you disappoint me, refusing your true destiny—to fulfill the planet's wishes."

"Obliterating Spira is not the planet's wish—it's yours! You're projecting your desires onto 'the planet'. You were denied any real love your entire life. So, you wish to inflict your suffering upon Spira and every soul in it. Creation is fueled by love. Destruction is fueled by hate. The absence of love in your heart has made you into nothing but a soulless beast!"

"I'm sorry you feel that way." Her piercing gaze then dropped to my stomach, a tinge of amusement now present on her smug face. "It's a shame that child of yours will never know life outside the womb. I suppose you are the last of my line then."

My chest swelled with fury. "I promise you, if I manage to return to the future, it'll be your very own bloodline that ends you one day."

"I look forward to watching you try." Yunalesca then gracefully fanned her arms out to the sky.

Everything around me suddenly became a fuzzy blur. Then, my knees buckled. But before I could hit the ground, I was enveloped by a silent darkness.

"Is she gonna be okay!? What about the baby!?"

Tidus…? Is that…you?

"Calm down. You'll be of no use to either of them wound up like this."

Sir Auron…?

"I can assure you, Tidus, both Yuna and your child will be just fine."

Is that…Doctor Gale?

"But she's still unconscious!"

"You'll have to excuse him," Auron broke in, sounding slightly embarrassed. "Tidus can be quite high-strung at times."

"Oh, I'm well aware of that. He's been my patient for many years now."

"Hey!"

Need to…open…my…eyes…

"Yuna should awaken soon. Her scans came back normal. So, rest assured there's nothing to indicate her being comatose. The sonogram showed no signs of trauma either. Your baby is healthy and doing just fine. All her vitals are stable and she's home safe now. Please try to remain calm. The last thing Yuna needs when she awakens is any kind of added stress."

"I… Ugh…"

"If anything changes you have my starcom info."

"Thanks doc…for everything."

"Not a problem."

"I'll walk you out," Auron insisted, voice now gentle and calm. "Tidus won't leave her side."

"Thank you, Auron. You're a true gentleman. And a very fit one at that."

Was she…flirting with him? Hmm…

There was some rustling around the room. Then, Auron and Doctor Gale's voices grew more distant. I felt a familiar hand grasp mine and a warm weight being applied to my tummy. Judging from all the shifting, I was convinced it was my beloved's head now resting on my abdomen.

But I wasn't prepared for what came next.

"Hey there, uh… I know I haven't really talked to you before but… Well, I dunno what to say except that…I'm your daddy and I love you and your mother very much." Pausing momentarily, he breathed a laugh and began drawing little patterns on my tummy with his fingers, "Kinda strange saying that. I never really thought about being a dad before…or even settling down for that matter.

"Man, it's crazy how fast my life has changed. Kinda feels like a weird dream that I don't wanna wake up from. Because if I did then you and your mother wouldn't be here and…" he paused, voice now strained with emotion. "I just don't think I can go back to that.

"Life before Yuna… Seems like a fate worse than death—empty and dark. It didn't feel like I was living at all really before your mother came to my door that night. She was so…beautiful. Still is of course. And I didn't know why at the time but I was just so drawn to her. I guess that's because we're meant for one another. I mean, we're engaged in the future and all—a future where we made you. Man, this sounds so weird. You must think your old man's crazy, huh?

"Anyway, I just wantcha to know that I can't wait to meet you and hold you in my arms," his tone then faltered into something much more somber and resigned, "but I know that won't be until way in the future. That's where you and your mother belong. And if she can't find a way to getcha guys back… I will. I promise."

Tears escaped the corners of my eyes and slid down my cheeks. That man of mine wasn't as selfish as I'd thought. His love for me was unequivocal. And I was afraid now, more than ever, that losing me would probably kill him.

Finally, my eyelids began to cooperate and fluttered open. Tidus had the side of his head resting on my tummy as I'd suspected, face turned away, so he hadn't noticed I'd opened my eyes as of yet.

But that hadn't lasted long. My breathing must've changed enough that it'd alerted him to where he drew back and met my bleary gaze with a relieved smile.

"Hey…" Giving my hand an affectionate squeeze, Tidus leaned in and left a feathery kiss upon my forehead. "About time you woke up, sleepyhead. How ya feelin'?"

That was a good question. For all I'd gone through in the Lifestream with Yunalesca, I should've been feeling a whole lot worse than I did. Not sure how my baby and I had managed to be unscathed from that encounter and what I'd endured with Siren. But I was beginning to suspect it might have something to do with these Mystic powers of mine. Though I was curious as to how I'd arrived back on the houseboat now.

"I'm… I'm feeling better than expected, I suppose."

"You really had me worried, y'know."

"I do that a lot, don't I?"

"Sure do," he confirmed with a slight chuckle. Those sweet lips of his then receded into a thin line. "What happened, Yuna? It's like you went right through the deck. Auron said it was a portal that swallowed you up. It happened so fast that I didn't notice any details, just that you were…gone. And you were gone for several hours. I searched the water and everything, ignoring what Auron had said. I was going outta my mind, thinking I'd never see you again, until you returned unconscious right where you disappeared."

So that's what happened. I suppose I should be grateful that Yunalesca hadn't dumped me into the ocean. No, that wicked woman wanted to watch me suffer a while longer.

"It was Lady Yunalesca." I adjusted myself on the pillows, so that I was sitting up a little more than I had been. "She… She summoned me to the Lifestream."

"The Lifestream?" he echoed, brows knit in query.

"The heart of the planet."

"She's that powerful?"

"Apparently so…" Releasing a troubled breath, I laced our fingers together and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "She's exactly what we feared, Tidus."

"She's a Mystic!?" His eyes grew huge once I confirmed with a nod. "Oh man…" he breathed, raking a hand through his flaxen wisps. "What'd she want?"

I didn't think it would be such a good idea to reveal how I was related to that unsent demon. This man of mine had his world turned upside down enough already. And Auron… Well, I wasn't sure how he'd react. I, on the other hand, was still having a hard time accepting my new-found lineage. And I wasn't sure if I ever would.

"She… wanted to recruit me in her maniacal plans to destroy Spira. She believes the planet is in pain and wishes to be relieved of its misery."

"That broad sounds like a bona fide psycho!" Tidus emphasized by scrunching his face in disgust. "And if she's as powerful as you say, why would she need your help to do all that? Unless you're more of a threat to her than we realize."

"I'm not so sure."

"C'mon Yuna, why else would she seek you out?"

There was no way I was elaborating on that. "She killed Siren. And she said her father had sent that summon here—that he wanted me dead."

His eyes narrowed into a scrutinizing slit. "Aren't they working together?"

"I'd thought so, too. After learning a few things though, I think she may actually resent her father. That's another matter entirely. But she refused to tell me why he wishes to kill me. She said if she did, then I'd no longer be of any use to her."

"But you refused to work with her, right?"

"Of course!"

He then shrugged and gave his head a shake. "I don't get it. Sounds like she just threw that out there as bait."

"I'm not so sure about that." Releasing Tidus' hand, I folded my arms and rubbed a finger over my bottom lip, mulling over my unsettling meeting with that vindictive woman. "Something doesn't add up. It seems like she needs me alive. But why…?"

"Mmm… Maybe it has something to do with you being a Mystic and all—something you haven't figured out yet."

And yet, she'd condemned me to death at the same time. It didn't make any sense. Yunalesca had mentioned how time travel for a Mystic was similar to peering through a looking-glass. Then that would mean she had the ability to see into the future as well. And if that were the case then…what all had she seen? Were there limitations on how far ahead she could look?

Oh, I was so confused! I didn't know what to think or believe anymore. Every time I thought I had this all figured out, something else would happen and toss me right back to square one. It was all so…frustrating!

"I don't like this, Tidus. Even if I do manage to get back home, I'm not so sure I'll be able to stop her from… From annihilating Spira."

"C'mon now, I bet you'll be the best Mystic out there!" Tidus gushed, only to add in a timid tone, "I mean, o-once you figure things out, y'know?"

That sounded about as convincing as Brother denying his incestuous feelings for me.

"Time's not on my side though. You know that, right?"

Reaching for my hand once again, Tidus brought it to his lips and kissed the back of it. "I swear I'll get you two back home safe. But you gotta tell me some things about the future—what to expect. And I think we need to have that talk soon, Yuna."

There was no point in having that conversation anymore. I couldn't very well tell him the truth either. I'd have to figure something out soon though.

But first, I had to see if what I'd managed to accomplish in the Lifestream could be applied to that module. And if it could… Then maybe…

I peered over at the half-empty vial poking out of my pouch on the nightstand as though the life-force swirling inside held the answers to life itself. Maybe… Just maybe the future wouldn't be lost to us after all.