79: Potential

Rikku sunk into her battle crouch. Her Godhand opened up and crackled with electricity, mirroring the adrenaline bubbling through her veins. "Drop that staff and get away from Auron," she warned lowly, bouncing on her heels. "I won't let you kill anybody else!"

"You should have never returned," Yunalesca hissed, tossing the staff away and lashing out at Rikku with her long whips of hair.

Throwing herself into a roll, Rikku ducked, weaved, and dodged her way around the deadly strands spearing towards her. It was anything but graceful; more of a sweaty, undignified scramble to keep herself from being impaled. She remembered how Auron had fought against Jihl and tried to copy him, making a mad dash for the opposite end of the platform to turn Yunalesca's attention away from Auron's prone body. Notice me, only me, she prayed fervently, her Godhand sparking as she deflected another deadly whisk of hair away from her neck. There were so many; it was dizzying trying to keep track of Yunalesca's attacks. She miscalculated and a stray strand of hair shot out and scored her along her waist.

Her balance lost, Rikku spun around and was knocked back by several more lashes of Yunalesca's hair. She felt shallow cuts opening across every inch of her exposed skin.

This isn't working! Her thoughts raced feverishly; on her own, she was at best able to dodge the deadliest of Yunalesca's attacks. Without teamwork, she was grossly under-matched for a one-on-one battle with the ancient summoner. She placed a hand over her cracked sphere, debating. One of the hair whips snapped a little too close to her eyes, and desperation forced her decision.

I need to go on the offensive.

Light surrounded her, and Auron's red robe settled over her shoulders. The edges were tattered now, and her right eyelid drooped, protesting when she forced it to stay open. It wasn't enough to stop her glare towards Yunalesca as she whirled the sword before her in a swift circle.

The ring of deadly hair-spikes that were rushing towards her dropped to the floor, momentarily stunned by her Dismissal. Rikku didn't wait, launching into a run and letting her injuries power the strength behind her sword.

"I will end you!" she shouted, slamming her weapon into Yunalesca. Her anger shattered right through the Protect spell Yunalesca had surrounded herself with. The Unsent let out an inhuman shriek of surprise as Rikku's sword cleaved heavily through her collarbone, opening a deep wound that oozed black, fiendish blood. Yunalesca pulled herself free and her hair whipped back to life, encircling Rikku and flinging her away.

Rikku only had a moment of satisfaction to note that the blow she'd landed had managed to bring Yunalesca to one knee before impacting against the remains of a crumbled wall. It knocked the breath from her lungs and more than a few of the wall's stones free. They spun off wildly into the void of space, and she was abruptly thankful for having smashed against a solid surface despite the pain. Shaking it off, she rose to her feet, dragging her sword behind her.

Yunalesca snarled at her, revealing elongated fangs, and Rikku reached deep into her sleeves and hurled the bag of Gil she found directly into the summoner's mouth. There was a loud crunch; she grinned when the heavy sack took Yunalesca's overextended fangs with it. Auron really had managed to hoard up a lot of money.

Reeling, Yunalesca held her bloodied mouth, swaying back and forth in shock. Not much of a challenge without Zaon to protect you, huh? Rikku thought smugly and rushed in for the kill, lifting her sword.

Eyes flashing golden, Yunalesca leaned forward, dropping her hand and spitting. Blood mingled with noxious black venom, splattering across Rikku's face and chest. She stumbled, blinded by the poisonous spray, and in that moment of distraction Yunalesca's attacks finally found their purchase.

Rikku yelled hoarsely as sharpened points of Yunalesca's hair sliced through the flesh of her arms and flung her backwards, nailing her to the ground her like stakes. Every second counted, so she forced herself to move. Grunting, she ripped her sword arm free. Her already hindered vision swam black, but she fought through the pain and swung blindly at her other arm, severing the hair tethering her in place. Then, shouting with the effort of it, she kipped up to her feet. Somehow, her grip on her sword remained firm despite both of her shaking arms being stained as red as her robe.

Things were starting to go fuzzy so she waved a hand before herself, drawing on Auron's powers to cleanse the poison eating away at her skin and blinding her eyes. The view when her vision cleared wasn't great; Yunalesca loomed over her, just as beaten and bloodied as she was, but poised for victory. "Let me be your liberator," she hissed maliciously, preparing for a final strike.

Behind Yunalesca, a dark shadow rose. Auron staggered back to his feet looking murderous, the Ashura raised high over his shoulder. Yunalesca realized he was there seconds too late, caught in a half-turn to face him when he brought the sword down with a furious roar. In one clean strike, he decapitated her.

Yunalesca's head bounced off the platform, her mouth open in a cry of surprise, before rolling into the void. The now-limp strands of her long, prehensile hair slithered over the edge after her. The body she'd left behind swayed and then fell over with a soft thunk, growing translucent and then disappearing in a burst of pyreflies.

Panting, Auron dropped to his knees, leaning heavily on his sword. They stared at each other for a moment, each bloodied and bruised from their ordeals, catching their breaths. Then Rikku shed her costume and flung herself forward, wrapping herself around him. "You big meanie! Don't you ever leave me behind again!"

"We did it. We defeated her." He sagged against her, leaning into her arms. "Somehow," he said, sounding utterly exhausted. Rikku's giggle of relief faded when she noticed that he didn't have any strength left in his legs; she sank to the ground with him, too drained to hold up his weight.

"Auron?" Her fingers rooted through her pouches, pulling out one of her last healing potions and forcing it down his mouth. He'd taken and used the bulk of their supplies just to reach this far on his own, and her fingers grew cold as she realized her potion was doing little to actually restore him.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, his eyes closing.

She laid him across the floor when he went completely limp in her arms, slipping into unconsciousness. "You pushed too hard," she scolded softly, smoothing her fingers over his chest. "Now how am I gonna get you out of here, you absolute unit?"

The cry of the pyreflies grew louder, and her hands stilled. Reluctantly, she raised her eyes and saw light shining from void under the same edge Yunalesca's head had rolled off. "I don't like this one bit," she whispered to Auron, struggling to her feet and stepping in front of him. She poured potions over her mangled arms and then flexed her fists, making sure her limbs were still working well enough to fight. Dread filled her as she recognized what was happening.

Tendrils of Yunalesca's blade-like hair rose over the edge, followed slowly by her severed head. Her eyes were serenely closed, as if she was resting. More disturbing was that her head was attached to a body, and that body wasn't even remotely human; it was a mass of writhing tentacles, and the higher it rose, the more familiar it looked.

"This can't be happening…" She sucked in a deep breath and took a step back as two huge, glowing emerald eyes opened and zeroed in on her.

The oversized mockery of Yunalesca's face peered out at her from the bottom of the malignant mass, surrounded by skull-headed snakes for hair. They twisted around the malevolent face, scenting the air and hissing menacingly. The enormous head opened her mouth and licked her lips with her long, forked tongue, her fangs glistening. "You didn't truly believe it would be that easy, did you?" she sibilated. "Sorrow cannot be abolished, but Fayth can be broken!"

Staring into those eyes and knowing exactly what Yunalesca could do to them in that form, Rikku felt it in her bones. She and Auron were going to die here together after all. She lifted her Godhand anyway, determined to protect him. "Bring it on," she declared more bravely than she felt.

"No!"

Rikku jumped at Tidus's loud shout. Her memories caught up with her, standing in defiance to Yunalesca.

"Your fate is in your hands!"

Auron was pushing her to resist with his impassioned rally. Kimahri growled in agreement.

Even her younger self was shouting, "Well, I'm fighting!"— as if she hadn't been scared witless back then, too.

"Gimmie a break!" Wakka complained, swiping at his nose.

"You can always run," Lulu replied, a hard glint in her eye.

"Now let's see this thing through together!" Tidus shouted hotly.

Yuna's pale face was set in determination, nodding.

Rikku smiled, even though they were just memories; having all of her friends surround her one last time lifted a little of the hopeless fog that had descended over her. "Thanks, guys," she whispered, tightening her grip on her weapon. "At least we won't die alone."

The memory began to fade, but Yunalesca's smile dropped. Her eyes opened wide, and she bared her fangs… and not at Rikku.

"Who said we'd be dying anyway?"

Rikku froze, turning her head so swiftly her neck cracked, her jaw dropping.

"Rikku! Long time no see," Tidus beamed, giving her a wave. Unlike the others, he'd solidified instead of disappearing. He looked just like he had during Yuna's Pilgrimage, except in his hand was his unmistakable celestial weapon, the Caladbolg. "You really need to learn how to listen better." He glared up at Yunalesca. "Geez. She's as ugly as I remember."

"Who are you?!" Yunalesca screeched, snapping at Tidus, who scooted out of the way with a shout.

"Whooaaa! You really pissed her off!"

Shaking her shock off, Rikku did the first thing she could think of. She shrieked. "WHAT?! I mean, why—no, how did you—look out!" They both dodged as Yunalesca sent her hair-snakes whipping after them, cracking the platform dangerously close to Auron's prone body.

Tidus, agile as ever, leapt over the snake separating them. He stabbed downwards with his sword, eliciting a pained scream from Yunalesca. But rather than landing and taking up his battle stance, he kept running, tearing past her to slide to a stop by Auron. Grabbing one arm, he started dragging the unconscious man towards the doors. "Little help here! He's not exactly light!"

Rikku threw her questions to the wind and dove after him, grabbing Auron's other arm and pulling for all she was worth.

Auron's weight doubled in her arms when Tidus abruptly dropped him and whacked a few of Yunalesca's attacking snake-heads back… a move Auron had taught him during Yuna's Pilgrimage. He took a running start and kicked away another hair extension, then rebounded off of a broken pillar and twisted in the air, energy gathering around his sword.

"Too late to beg for mercy!" he yelled at Yunalesca, slinging the blade down to rain blasts of power that damaged multiple locks of her hair. Hitting the ground, he skipped back and helped her push Auron out the door while Yunalesca was stunned.

Unfortunately, Yunalesca recovered from his attack quickly. With a wild scream of fury she rushed towards them, green eyes glowing ominously like a fiendish nightmare. Tidus yelped and slammed the double doors shut, wedging the Caladbolg in the handles. There was a loud thump from something impacting against the other side. The closed doors shuddered, and dust and stone rained down all around them. Still, after a few more hits, they relaxed minutely. Both the sword and the doors held fast, stopping Yunalesca's charge.

Backing away, Tidus held up his hands triumphantly. "I won't go so easy on you next time!" he bragged. Then he dropped them awkwardly. "Because… I won't. I mean, like for real. I'll kill you next time." And then he removed all doubt as to who he really was, because he put his hands on his hips started laughing at his own joke.

Rikku barreled into him, nearly knocking him over. "Tidus!" she screamed, simultaneously hugging him and shaking him furiously. "What the heck are you doing? How'd you even get here? Did Bahamut send you to help us?!"

"Whoa! Calm down!" Tidus wheezed, extracting her hands from around his neck and pushing her back.

They both jumped as the doors shuddered again, and Tidus winced. "Why don't we get a little further back before we have a happy reunion?"

"But your sword?" she asked.

Tidus waved her off, leaning down to scoop Auron off the floor. "Naw, it's fine. Celestial weapons are just a part of your soul anyhow. I won't lose it," he reassured her.

"Huh?" Rikku slung Auron's other arm around her shoulders and helped Tidus carry him down the stairs.

"I mean, how else could your Godhand have followed you all the way out here?" he asked. "They're kind of tied to their wielders, you know." Conversation petered out as they huffed and puffed Auron out of the sanctum, past the cloisters, and back out to the ruined hallway leading to the trial, just to be safe. Tidus was strong, but Auron was pure muscle with body armor packed on top.

"Stop… we need to stop here," Tidus wheezed, and Rikku's legs buckled under her in relief.

"I thought I was gonna die," she groaned, covering her face. Then she dropped her hands and sat up, looking at Tidus searchingly. "What's going on here, anyway?"

Tidus gave her a long look up and down, and then leaned over to observe Auron, who was still out cold beside her. He grinned and ignored her question. "So it's true! Yuna told me, but I didn't believe it at the time."

Caught off guard, Rikku frowned. "Told you what?"

"That you loved Auron," he said, drawing his knees up and leaning against them. "You know… with the whole Samurai costume thing. Didn't think someone like you'd spring for that stodgy old man."

"He's not old!" Rikku shot back immediately. Then she sighed. "And… it wasn't love. Not real love, anyway. Because Auron never let me in back then." She looked down at the Auron by her side, carefully brushing a lock of hair from his face. "I know what being in love really feels like now," she said softly.

"Well, I mean, you still felt strongly enough to throw yourself into the past at least," Tidus pointed out, gesturing at their surroundings. "I'd say you were pretty obsessed."

"Huh? What do you mean threw myself? I didn't send myself anywhere! I thought it was Bahamut who did all this! Bahamut and—" She stopped, a sharp pain in her chest, unable to say Braska's name out loud.

"I mean you threw yourself back in time," Tidus repeated, now pointing his finger at her. "I'm guessing Braska helped get you here somehow, but he's just a summoner, you know. You're the aeon." He grinned. "You're kinda like me now."

"Yunalesca already told me that," Rikku admitted. She looked down at her hands… solid, despite all the fighting she'd done. Anima's vast powers were still sustaining her. "I didn't want to believe it was true… not really. But then Yu Yevon tried to possess me." She closed her eyes, feeling the guilt overwhelm her. "I'm sorry about Je—"

"Don't finish that," Tidus interrupted her. "My old man knew what he was doing. Once he got an idea in his head, he'd just keep chasing after it until it became reality. If he wanted to become a Final Aeon, you wouldn't have been able to stop him." He shrugged. "Besides… I like being with Yuna. So I'm grateful, actually. Because of what you guys did, I get to be more than just a forgotten dream."

Rikku closed her eyes and let Tidus' forgiveness settle around her like a cloak. It still didn't ease the raw ache of losing Braska or her churning worry for Auron, who still hadn't woken up. Knowing that both Jecht and Tidus didn't hate her lightened some of the guilt, though. Shaking her head, she looked up at Tidus.

"Okay, but how? You still haven't answered my question. What are you even doing here? Why didn't you show up and help us out earlier if you could travel back in time too?"

Tidus laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head – a gesture so familiar it sent a pang through her heart. "I don't think you get it. I'm not really here. Well, I mean, I can be, but only here here," he said, gesturing at their surroundings. "You're the one who opened the way here, so I'm stuck. Inside this Dome. It's the only place the pyreflies are concentrated enough to make me." He smiled at her. "And only so long as you remember."

"You mean… you really are just my memory?"

Tidus nodded. "Kinda. I'm still me, but this body I'm in is all you. I mean come on, I haven't worn my hair this short in years," he said, running a hand through his wild hair. Then he leveled her with a serious look, the smile dropping from his face. "We're not like normal people, Rikku. We're aeons. Dreams. Other peoples' dreams. You have to understand what that means."

"So you're alive because Yuna's dreaming about you?" she asked, and Tidus laughed.

"Weeell," he drawled, leaning back. "Yuna called me back. But I'm not just one person's dream. We can live because we're part of everybody's dream," he said. "As long as someone in Spira holds a little bit of those dreams in their heart, we can keep on going."

Rikku put her hands in her hair, shaking her head. "I don't get it. What are you then? What am I? I feel more like a nightmare than a dream these days." She looked at her hands. "And I'm disappearing."

"Because you're in the wrong time," Tidus said, as if it explained everything. Seeing her face, he sighed. "Okay, look. You're not exactly like me. I'm…" He searched for words for a moment, his face drawing in thought. "If Yojimbo is Spira's greed, then maybe you could say I'm Spira's hope. Or maybe… joy? I'll always come back as myself, even when Yuna's gone. I'll be around until this world gives up."

Rikku let her hands drop from her head. "Then what am I?" she asked slowly.

"You?" Tidus snorted, his eyes crinkling in laughter the exact same way Jecht's had. "Yu Yevon didn't make a mistake when he tried to possess you, Rikku. You can be anything you want to be. That's why you're the most powerful aeon. You're potential." He grinned. "You don't even need to look like that if you didn't want to. The only thing you have to remember is to not lose yourself, or there'll be no going back to the ol' Rikku once you change."

Rikku rocked in place, trying to wrap her mind around Tidus' words. Despite his explanation, she didn't feel any stronger. All she felt was a deep, churning confusion as Tidus ploughed through what she'd thought of as her life and turned everything upside-down. "Am I dead?"

Tidus looked uncomfortable. "Technically… no? But you fell into the Farplane. It's not a place for the living. Nobody really survives that." He held up his hands as her face paled. "I mean, you're not really dead though! Auron found you while you were dying, and Braska made sure you didn't."

She reeled. Braska, in the future? "But… he died! If he's in the Farplane, then he's not an Unsent. How even… did Braska have that kind of summoning power?"

"Well, Bahamut is the King of all Aeons. I get the feeling it was a joint effort there." He smirked. "And Auron's been guarding you all this time, waiting for you to come back. He's still mad at you for bringing Lenne along. She's the one who pushed you, you know." He shook his head. "Yuna never should've given you that sphere."

"What? Lenne? But she's been helping us! And she died fighting Yunalesca—"

"No! Lenne died a thousand years ago," Tidus scowled. "What makes you think a thousand-year-old Unsent obsessed with love ever had your best interests at heart? How many thousand-year-old Unsents have you met so far that weren't totally messed up in the head?"

"Well…" Technically, he was kind of right. Still, she latched on to something more important. "Wait, Auron's waiting for me? Does that mean…" She looked down at Auron and felt her throat constrict. "Does that mean he still has to die here?"

"He already is, and you know it."

No. She shied away from it, even though she'd seen it in Auron's eyes. In his mad dash up the mountain. In every crushed vial and discarded candle she'd passed. In the lies he'd told her when they'd crossed the gorge. Auron was determined, talented, unstoppable… but still only human. Even if Yunalesca hadn't attacked him, he'd already burned his body out forcing his way into Zanarkand alone; maybe his soul had left even earlier, along with Braska and Jecht.

For once, her nervous movements stilled. Tidus was finally forcing herself to accept the obvious. "Nothing… nothing really changed. Nothing I did here mattered. Everyone… everyone still died in the end," she whispered. "What was it all for?"

"The future. You know, the one you helped make… back then, and even now." Tidus shifted, scooting closer to her, and threw an arm over her shoulder. "Rikku… Your gig's supposed to be all about the future, not the past. You need to think of time like a big river, flowing in one direction. What happened here is already done, no matter how much you might want things to go differently." He gave her a squeeze. "You're strong, but not even you can change history. You can only witness it happening."

She couldn't answer him; she reached out and grabbed Auron's bare hand, digging her fingers into his skin. "You mean I'm gonna have to watch him leave me first again," she said brokenly.

Auron stirred, and Tidus shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah… about that. Listen. I have to get going… and you should come with."

"Huh? But why?" She felt a sense of impending panic. "You're leaving?"

"This isn't my story," he replied with a shrug. "I'm just a memory here. The real me is in the future." He looked at her pointedly. "Where you should be, too."

Auron's eyelid fluttered, lost in a lucid dream made from his own exhaustion. She traced her fingers over his forehead, and down the bridge of his nose, and then cupped his cheek. The stubble growing on his chin prickled against her fingertips. "I'm not just a witness to any of this. I'm a part of it," she said softly. Then she tore her gaze away from Auron and looked back at Tidus. "So I'm not going back. I'm not done yet," she said. "Tell Yunie hi for me. And… tell her not to worry."

"Wait… you're not coming back with me?" Tidus crossed his arms. "Auron's gonna to die whether you stay with him or not, Rikku. You're just making it harder on yourself."

"I know," she said. "But this is my story. And I'm seeing it through to the end."

Tidus sighed, clearly displeased. Then he grumbled. "Alright. I get it. I'll clear the way for you. But I can't stay any longer than that." He squatted by her and gave her a friendly punch on the shoulder. "Don't forget what I told you. Remember who you are, and you'll be able to make it back home." He stood, and the Caladbolg materialized in his hand. "Time to get serious. If I'm leading, you need to carry Auron, and you can't do it like that."

Rikku nodded, putting her hand to her Grid. Light flowed over her, and her eye slid shut as the tattered red robes reappeared. Leaning down, she scooped Auron up, mirroring the way he'd carried her out of the dome the first time. "Let's move."

.x.x.x.

She made it outside, Auron's weight heavy in her arms. He was breathing more quickly now and his body was growing hot. He'd stir in her embrace from time to time, groaning incoherently, but never truly coming out of his fevered stupor. Part of her was afraid that he'd never open his eyes again, but she refused to leave him to die in the wastes of Zanarkand, surrounded by Yu Yevon's broken dreams.

Tidus had waved at her from the entrance, his grin bright like the sunshine before he rippled away. Anima hadn't shown herself again, but Rikku had felt the Fayth's power leave her abruptly the moment she cleared the Dome's threshold.

Surprisingly, Ixion was still waiting for her beyond, catching her as she stumbled. His face dropped in displeasure when he saw her, and he jolted her with energy, pulling her back to her feet.

"You're using my power too quickly," he noted, glaring at her red overcoat from her still-active Grid.

"I thought you didn't like me," Rikku gasped, pushing forward in determined, measured steps down the highway. It stretched out before her, impossibly long, and Auron's weight dragged heavily against her still-injured arms.

"I don't. You're too greedy," was all he said. Then he placed his palms against her back and pushed her forward. Together, they jogged down the highway, Ixion frequently sending bursts of power into her whenever she faltered. The fiends stayed away from them, as if they could sense the grumpy aeon behind her. Or maybe they just couldn't see her anymore.

She didn't want to think about it, instead focusing on carrying Auron with her the same way she'd hauled Braska's staff in. When they reached the campsite at the end of the highway, Ixion stopped and dropped his hands.

Rikku turned to look at him.

He crossed his arms and shook his head, and she noticed that his body was already mostly translucent. The Fayth she'd seen generally didn't show much in the way of emotion, so she wouldn't say Ixion looked tired. But from the way he seemed to be on the verge of disappearing, she guessed she'd drained him of more power than she'd realized.

"Umm… thanks," she said awkwardly. Maybe Ixion didn't dislike her as much as he let on.

He chuffed and nodded at her, fading away with a scowl on his face.

She turned and looked at the long hike up to the peak of Gagazet, and her knees shook. "How are we gonna make it all the way back by ourselves, Auron?" she asked softly. His head bumped against her collarbone, and she grit her teeth, feeling fiercely protective of him. He's not dead yet. Shifting his weight in her arms, she began marching up the steep path.

The wind blew harshly, making it difficult to keep her balance. By the time she crested the hill that overlooked Zanarkand, she was soaked in sweat and beginning to seriously worry that her arms would dissolve and she'd accidentally drop Auron over the edge of the cliff.

The thought of him falling to his death spurred her to move on with her head down; she stumbled when she hit something hard, though. Blinking, she saw a pair of furry paws next to her shoes.

"Arf!" Koimanu stared up at her, tail wagging.

"Why are you doing this?"

She raised her head slowly and looked into the man who'd stopped her; it was a slim Crusader dressed in full battle regalia. His arms were crossed, and his eyes were completely obscured by his helmet. Yojimbo leaned his weight onto one hip, looking so utterly different and unintimidating compared to his aeon form that she couldn't help but laugh, tired as she was.

"I could ask you the same thing. You don't serve Bahamut either," she countered. "… But your dog's cute."

Koimanu's tail wagged.

Sighing loudly, Yojimbo uncrossed his arms. "You do an honorable thing now for your fallen soldier," he said reluctantly. "There is no benefit to you. You could leave here and you would be fine, yet you stay and choose to suffer."

Rikku dropped her head against Auron's, closing her eyes. "I love him. And Auron deserves better than to be left here. His life meant something. I won't let him die alone."

"You won't be able to carry him the entire way like that," Yojimbo pointed out, making no move to help her.

"Thanks for the boost," she muttered dryly, shouldering past Yojimbo and continuing on towards the caves.

Koimanu kept pace with her, and eventually, Yojimbo's voice needled her back.

"You know, you could just make it easier on yourself. Unlock your potential, and I will help you."

Her tripping gait slowed to a stop. "Unlock my potential?" She looked up at Yojimbo, who was circling around her.

"Why do insist on becoming him when you aren't?"

Her exhaustion tore at her, making her sway on her feet. Auron felt heavier by the minute; she could feel his life ebbing away in her arms. Suddenly, she felt fiercely resentful of Yojimbo's well-meant advice. "Because I'm strong enough to do this on my own!" she snapped at him. "I don't need your help! I don't need anyone else! I don't want anyone else—"

To suffer.

Her words caught in her throat as the fury died out. She looked at Auron again closely, her heart stuttering. "Oh, Auron," she whispered, closing her eyes.

"You should be yourself," Yojimbo said gently. "That is where your true strength lies."

Rikku sank to the ground, her knees finally giving out, and released her hold on his dressphere. The red robes faded, and Auron lay across her lap, a heavy, immovable weight. His skin was flushed and sweat matted his forehead.

She leaned over him and cried softly. "What strength? I couldn't even stop him from repeating history."

Yojimbo squatted next to her. "History? You're no warrior-monk. You're a Bedohl. Or have you forgotten where you came from already?"

"Al Bhed," she corrected fiercely, suddenly annoyed by the way everyone seemed to be pigeonholing her into a past she'd never experienced. "I'm not a Bedohl, I'm an Al Bhed!"

"Are you? It looked like you'd forgotten."

Huh. Putting her hand over her grid, she realized that he was right. There was only one sphere left on her Grid that wasn't damaged. Her own. Tentatively, she activated it.

Light swirled and her Alchemist costume surrounded her, filling her with confidence. "I'm not broken. I'm smart, and capable, and I can fix any problem I face as long as I take the time to think my way out of it," she declared. She reached into her pouch and downed a few of her conjured potions, feeling her own wounds sealing shut. She sprinkled a few more over Auron, but, just like the first time she'd tried, they had little effect on him. There weren't any wounds hurting his body any longer; he'd simply broken himself more deeply than any healing agent could repair.

"I think in the back of my mind, I always thought you were infallible," she murmured, squeezing her eyes shut and resisting the urge to hit him. "Stupid… stupid," she choked out, feeling hot tears building behind her eyelids as she hugged him to her. As if her arms alone could lower his fever and restore his vitality. After a moment, she realized he was shivering, even though his skin was still burning up.

We're running out of time.

Forcing herself to move, she scooped her arms under Auron's legs and tried to lift him. "Urg," she groaned, pulling against his weight. He didn't budge, but she kept trying. "You're… coming… with me, buster!" she ground out, straining to lift him into her arms.

"This is the way," Yojimbo told her, and she felt his hand on her shoulder, felt the rush of power flood through her.

Something gave and then, the light of her sphere transformation activated even though she wasn't trying to change costumes. Was her dressphere evolving? Suddenly, Auron's weight became bearable. She rose to her feet, tottering and catching her balance from nearly overcompensating for his bulk.

Koimanu nuzzled her ankles, and Rikku looked down. "Did I just get… chonkier?" she asked, looking at the bands of dull golden metal that had wrapped themselves around her legs and thighs. She bent her arms, finding the same armor plating there, studded with dull red spikes. It all looked strangely familiar.

"Koimanu and I will guide you for as far as we can," Yojimbo said, bowing to her respectfully.

"What is this?" Rikku breathed, taking an experimental step forward. The whirr of gears turning sounded as her foot lifted and thudded into the ground heavily. It took a few more steps before she got the hang of moving somewhat comfortably in the heavy suit of armor. Recognition dawned. "This is my Machina Maw, isn't it?"

Koimanu barked, and Yojimbo shook his head. "It is who you want to be."

Rikku looked down at Auron again, feeling the exosuit expand, armor sliding up the back of her neck. "I want to be strong enough to protect you this time," she said softly to him. She shifted her hold on Auron, making sure he was resting comfortably against her chestplate. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop it. I'm sorry that I couldn't be enough," she said, leaning over to brush her lips across his forehead. "But I'll stay here as long as you still need me."

Looking up, she took a deep breath and began her long march down the mountainside, Yojimbo trailing silently behind her.

A/N:
Samurai abilities:
Dismissal (halts an enemy's pending attack)
Mirror of Equity (low HP = more damage)
Spare Change (attack by throwing gil at an enemy)
Clean Slate (restores HP and cures user of status)

Tidus Abilities: Sentinel (an ability on Auron's path)
Overdrive: Energy Rain

Rikku's Dressphere: Machina Maw Ex (powersuit)