Where am I? When did this happen? What is going on here? Questions ran through Tidus’ mind like a wildfire as he slowly came out of the deep sleep that had overtaken him as he left Yuna and the others at the Calm Lands. He stretched out. It felt like his bones had been immobile for a lifetime. Darkness surrounded him in every direction except for a small amount of light above his head. He began swimming and about a half a minute later broke the surface of the water.
“Who the heck are you!?” asked a person from behind him. He turned to see a heavyset man in an old, worn out Besaid Aurochs bliztball team uniform.
“Where am I?” Tidus asked turning to face the man completely.
“Why your in Luca, the third biggest city in Spira. I’m Datto, assistant captain of the Besaid Aurochs. Care to buy some tickets for the Bliztball Championship tomorrow?” Said the man after a small fit of laughter. “Say, don’t I know you from somewhere?”
“Maybe. How long has it been since Sin was destroyed?”
“Two years tomorrow, buddy.”
“Thanks.” He said as he handed the man some Gil that he had in his pocket and ran off towards the Inn.
“Hey, you didn’t get a ticket and besides you gave about 500,000 Gil!” The man shouted at him.
“You can keep it.” He hollered back as he kept running.
Three years! It can’t be, it just can’t be! He thought as he slowed down to a walk. He walked in to the Inn and asked for a room. After he paid he went out into the town to check out what had changed. He walked slowly towards the entrance of the bliztball stadium and item shops.
Out in the middle of the walkway was a huge stone statue depicting him, Yuna, Wakka, Auron, Rikku, Lulu, and Kimahri. He turned and walked into the bathroom and looked in a mirror. His hair had grown down to his shoulders and turned lighter than what it used to be. His clothes had darkened but his Caladbolg sword still hung off his side attached to his belt. He turned and walked back out to the front of the stadium and left to the shops where Yuna had been kidnapped near the start of his guardian-hood.
“Hey bruddas, what’s our goal for tomorrow’s tournament?” Said a voice he would of recognized anywhere from behind him. He turned and saw the man that was like his brother, Wakka.
“Win!” Called the Besaid Aurochs.
“Then I am not dreaming, I guess.” Tidus said as he stepped up behind Wakka.
Wakka and the rest of the team turned to look at him as their jaws dropped. The just stood their with mouths open for a moment until Wakka finally found the words to say.
“You’re… You’re actually back. I thought… We all thought that you were gone forever.” He said as he gasped for air and hugged Tidus.
“Now you really didn’t think I was gone, did you. Come on, you guys know I never back down from challenge.” Tidus said as he hugged him back. “Anyway where is everyone else and what has happened over these last three years?”
“Come with me and I’ll tell you.” He said as he, Tidus, and the team began walking towards the Grand Maester’s box in the stadium. “Oh, but before you see everyone you should get a hair cut and change clothes.”
An hour they entered the rooms that the Maesters stayed in during the tournament. The team entered first one by one, followed by Wakka and then Tidus finally stepped through with his arms crossed across his chest to the surprise of the two people that were in the room before they entered. Lulu and Rikku were sitting on the couch.
“Your back! I knew that you’d never die!” Yelled Rikku happily as she ran up to hug him.
Same old Rikku, always thinking about her cousin at the same time she was thinking about herself.
“It’s good to see both of you again. I still have no clue what is going on here though.” Tidus replied with a feeling of joy that rushed over him.
“Well since you went off to the farplane or wherever you were, a lot has changed. We rely on machina now, Zanarkand has been rebuilt, and Yu Yevon is a being of the past now. Wakka and I have been married for about a year and a half now.” Lulu said with a rare smile.
“Yunie, Kimahri, and I are maesters now! My father has started up airship ports all around Spira and has ten airships like the one we salvaged. He used the airships to rebuild the Al Bhed home and Wakka even helped. ” Rikku replied. “Yunie’s the Grand Maester.”
“Where are Yuna and Kimahri by the way? I mean if both of them are maesters and the tournament is tomorrow, shouldn’t they be here for the opening ceremonies? And Yuna is a big supporter of the Aurochs.” Tidus asked with a hint of expectance of in his voice.
“They will be arriving around ten tonight. I suggest that you are ready by then because Yuna has not been the same since that night on the airship. She alone believed that you were still out there somewhere. It seems that she’s right again.” Lulu answered.
Suddenly, as if something that one of the others had said had turned a key in mind, a titanic amount of knowledge entered his mind. The fayth had somehow had made him real because of an alleged alliance of the spirits of Seymour, Yunalesca, and Yu Yevon who were creating an undead army to break out of the farplane and enter the living world. Just as the thoughts entered his head the fayth that helped summoners receive Bahamut spoke directly into his mind.
“The chambers of fayth have begun to resonate to provide their services to the summoners once again. The alliance is almost ready for their assault on the farplane barrier and eventually the world. You have a little over one month before they will escape. Gather the summoners together again as I will be drawing on my maximum powers to bring Auron, Jecht, and Lord Braska to assist you. This threat is far bigger than any one person can face. You are more than just a dream or real human now. You are a combined fayth. You must lead the summoners to the plains of the Calm Lands to prepare for their undead army. They will try to get to the rebuilt city Zanarkand. You must not allow this to happen . Good luck my young friend.”
The news of what was going to happen in one short month struck him like a sledgehammer. It may have been shocking news but ever since Sin he had been ready for anything.
“Wakka. Lulu. Rikku. There is going to be a war to make Sin look like child’s play. The fayth that dreamt me into life just told me that in one month a gigantic undead army led by Seymour, Yunalesca, and Yu Yevon will escape the farplane and begin to lay siege to Spira. The fayth have started to give power to the aeons again so we are to gather the summoners of old together and stop the army in the Calm Lands because they are trying to get back to Zanarkand.” He said as he paused for a moment to let the information sink in.
“I am now a summoner as well. I have control over all the aeons and am able to control the final aeons of old without dying. Auron, my father, and Braska have been resurrected to help us. It seems that I am no longer a simple dream but a full human now. The fayth told me that my father and I never really will die because we became something more when we came in contact with Sin. Once Yuna gets here and the tournament is over I will need your help dearly, guys. I will have to speak to her when she gets here.”
After he had finished telling them the news of war one month away, he and Wakka headed to the locker rooms where the team had went.
“Even if you are a summoner now brudda, we gonna see if you’ve improved your bliztball skills any, ya’ know.” Wakka said with a normal joking tone in his voice. “By the way, I’ve mastered both the Jecht Shot and the Jecht Shot II. I might be a bit of competition for you now.”
“Is that so? Then I might actually have to start playing for real then. It was so easy beating the Goers that I could have tied my hands behind my back. But back then no one believed I was really from Zanarkand.” Tidus replied also jokingly.
“Well I have an idea then. Since the whole world will now you’re back tomorrow at the tournament, why don’t we make Rikku and Lulu keep your being here a secret till the game tomorrow? Yuna and the whole world can see you in the sphere.”
“That’s a good idea. It’d be like a surprise for Yuna.” Tidus said after a moment of consideration. “You go tell Rikku and Lulu not to say anything to Yuna or Kimahri except that they’re really interested in the tournament tomorrow.”
“You go on ahead a get some practice in with the boys and see ya in a little while. Stay in the hotel tonight and stay away from the airship port and if you go out into public I’d wear like a hood or something ya’ know. That statue out front makes you pretty recognizable.”
After about two hours of practicing with the team, Wakka came rushing in. Apparently he finished telling the other two about the surprise about a minute before Yuna and Kimahri arrived. She had decided to just stay in the suite all night.
“All right guys, tomorrow the matches begin. There are so many free agents this year that some teams split in two and now there are eight teams going for the trophy. Tidus and me will lead the main offensive. Ropp, you Jassu be open for passing and main offensive blocking.” Wakka said as took a pause. “Botta, Letty, and Miyu, you people are in charge of shutting the other team down before they get close enough to Keepa to try their luck against our brick wall. Keepa, if they do get in your zone, you know what to do and how to do it.”
“You got it cap’n!” Keepa hollered from the back.
“All right guys. Meet in here at ten tomorrow morning and we’re gonna take the trophy back to Besaid again. We are the Besaid Aurochs! What’s our goal.”
“Win!”
Tidus walked slowly back to the Inn with his hood pulled over his face so that only his nose and mouth showed. He went up to his room and fell asleep while waiting in anticipation for the next day.
It’s surprising what can happen in such a short time. I still can’t believe that it’s been three years since we beat Yu Yevon, Sin, and my father. Tidus thought to himself while lying in bed at the Inn. In a little under ten hours the blitzball tournament would begin and the whole world would know that he couldn’t be just thought away. He wondered what Yuna and others said had happened to him once they got back from the battle. Everyone saw the armor known as Sin and it’s creator turn into pyreflies and head off to the farplane.
Well, no sense wondering about things in the past. I’d rather dwell in the future now that I actually have one. His last thoughts were slowly conquered by the deep sleep that overtook him. As he drifted off to the dream world that he lived in at certain times, he was unaware of the small child in a purple hood that floated above his bed in the rafters of the Inn.
He awoke four hours later the thin rays of sunshine streaming through the curtains of his room.
“Well, it’s about time you got up. I was beginning to think you were starting to act like a fayth and creating more dreams that a more than that.” A voice said from the doorway. A voice he had known from the youngest years of his life, Jecht his father. “The one’s who created our ~~~ily have told me what they told you, boy. Are you ready for what lies ahead of you and me and everyone else.”
“ It’s good to see you again dad. I’m ready for anything and so should you be, especially because you and I are going to help out Wakka today in the tournament. You still able to do your shot?” Tidus said in a joking manner. “Or are you too old to even blitz with skill?”
“You better be ready because I’ve finally got a Mark I and Mark II ready for any crowd. I heard from Auron that you’re doing both the Jecht Shot I and II. I want you to know that I’m really proud of you, boy.”
“You should be. He and every one else finally got you out of Sin.” Said a man who was like Tidus’ second father, Sir Auron.
“Now Auron, if I remember correctly, you were the one who wanted me not to go on Braska’s pilgrimage as his second guardian.”
“Yes and I think I might have actually made a mistake once in my life when I got mad at Braska for hauling you along. It seems that you coming allowed your son here to save everyone from that maniac Yevon. And to think I was once a monk.”
“Now Auron, you, Jecht, and I went through the good and bad together. We never knew the truth about Yevon until we got to Zanarkand.” Answered a new voice that Tidus knew to be Yuna’s father High Summoner Braska. “Anyway, Auron and I should be getting to the Maester’s box while you two get to practice.”
Tidus and Jecht walked slowly the secret route into the locker rooms that Wakka had showed him.
“So I take it Yuna doesn’t know about any of this yet. Knowing you you’ll keep it a secret till you can let everyone know we’re back.” Jecht said as the walked into the practice area. “I take it you’re going to see her after the matches.”
“Right, until then she won’t know about anything because she’ll be in the balcony near the sphere while Auron and Braska are with the rest of the group inside the Maester’s room. By the way, do you want to place a little wager on who can score more today?” Tidus replied with a somewhat mischievous tone in his voice.
“Are you trying to take me on the game I gave style to?”
“You didn’t give it style, just moves.”
“Fine then. 10,000 Gil to whoever scores the most.”
“You’re on.”
Five hours later the team entered the sphere pool with Jecht and Tidus going in last. In under two minutes the whole world would see them, including Yuna.
“This is it. You ready, boy.” Jecht said jokingly
“I’m so nervous that I might explode after seeing Yuna again. But I’m looking forward to taking your money.” Tidus replied in the same manner.
“Just keep that attitude. Concentrate on the game even though you’re going down big time.”
“Ya’ know; if you keep that dream you might actually be good enough to beat me one day. The student has surpassed the master.”
“Sir Jecht, it is an honor to truly meet you. But we’ve got to go guys. We have a championship to win. And the little boy here has a lady to impress.” He said, gesturing to Tidus as he turned back at them before swimming out.
Tidus walked into the water side by side with his dad and slowly swam out to the two remaining forward position-starting points in the sphere pool. He could already here the gasps coming from the audience everywhere. He turned to look where Yuna was sitting and waved but she was just sitting wide-eyed in the gigantic chair. There would be time for explanations later. Now was blitz off time.
The blitzball shot upward through the water towards the top of the sphere as both Graav and Wakka nearly flew through upwards after it to catch it. Graav apparently had lost his blitzball speed as Wakka got to it a full five seconds before him. He then passed the ball over to Ropp as he swam past Shuu and towards the Luca goalkeeper. Just as he was about to be caught in a three-way pincer attack by Shuu, Bickson, and Wedge, he did a Venom Pass III straight to Tidus who was passing overhead. With a little over twenty feet from the goal, he flipped backward in the water and smacked the ball with amazing force.
“Goal!!!” The announcer yelled into the mic. “This is amazing people. The Aurochs have scored first against their archrivals, your very own Luca Goers!”
This is just the beginning. Tidus thought as Graav snatched the ball on its way up again and passed it to Abus. Just as Tidus was going to steal the ball from behind with a Drain Tackle II, Jecht slammed into Abus with the force of an out of control semi-truck, rendering him completely unconscious. He just smiled at Tidus for a second then swam off towards Raudy, the goalkeeper on the Goers’ team. Right before he got to Raudy he found himself surrounded by Shuu, Bickson, Graav, and Balgerda. Smiling again he began the Jecht Shot II by slamming the ball into Graav’s face then rebounding it with another hit into Shuu. When it came back to him he slammed it into Bickson then flew up with it to kick it past Balgerda and Raudy and straight into the goal.
“The Aurochs score again! This is incredible, folks! The Aurochs are on fire thanks to the addition of two new players on their team! We’re eight minutes into the game and the score is Aurochs two and Goers none!” The announcer hollered again.
You could tell from the look on Graav’s face that he was getting anxious quickly. Smiling to himself, Tidus stole the ball from him as he was about to pass it to Doram after catching it from the toss-up. In less than twenty seconds he was about thirty feet from the goalkeeper. To prove that he could do anything that his father could do he let Graav, Bickson, and Abus surround him. Doing the same maneuvers for the Jecht Shot II, the ball shot into the goal again ten seconds later.
Ignoring what the announcers were saying this time, he got into position again behind Graav and followed him towards Keepa, the goalkeeper on the Aurochs side. Just as Graav finally thought he had a chance of starting to catch up to the Aurochs in score; Tidus, Botta, and Jassu surrounded him and effectively knocked him out.
Tidus took advantage of his mistake and passed the ball all the way over to Wakka who was close enough to the Luca goalkeeper to pull off a Drain Shot III and score one last point before the game ended.
“The Besaid Aurochs have just won the game, folks!” The announcer hollered again. “They have beat the Luca Goers for the first time in thirteen years! This is truly amazing folks! The Aurochs will be taking the blitzball cup trophy back to their home on Besaid.”
Tidus and Jecht smiled to one another as Wakka swam up towards them, also smiling. This was the best game he had seen the Aurochs play in thirteen years since he became captain. They all began swimming towards the Aurochs goal and underneath to the water exit, content with their efforts.
Right as they were climbing out of the water, Braska and Auron walked up towards them with a similar look of satisfaction.
“It seems that blitzball talent comes extraordinarily natural for you two. But lets’ not celebrate your victory yet because you have one more team to beat.” Braska said with the same calm voice that Tidus had heard in the spheres that they had left during their journey. “By the way Tidus; Yuna will be arriving at your locker room in about two minutes. Why don’t we all give her a warm welcome.”
Exactly two and a half minutes later she walked into the locker room followed by Kimahri, Lulu, and Rikku.
“Wakka. Tell me what is going on here. I could have sworn I saw him and Sir Jecht swimming in the sphere pool with you.” Yuna nearly cried.
“You did.” Tidus said as he stepped out from behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “I’ve missed you.”
She turned around to face him while she was crying, and hugged him as she laid her head against his shoulder.
“You’re back. You’re really back. I’ve missed you too so incredibly bad.”
“It’s okay.” He replied just embracing her tightly. “I’m here now and that’s all that matters. However, you might want to say hi to a few old friends and allies.” He said gesturing to Auron, Braska, and Jecht.
“Daddy, how is this possible? Are the fayth playing tricks on my mind and all this is really another dream brought to reality?”
“No my precious daughter, we are all real. Jecht and Tidus are full humans now. Auron and I have been brought back because of some pressing issues that will need to be dealt with.” He said smiling towards her as he also embraced her. “It seems that there is to be a revival of the aeons and your young friend here will be leading them.”
“He’s a summoner now!” She exclaimed after a moment of thought about her father’s words. “How can that be?”
“Well it looks like my and my father’s dreamers made it possible because of an uprising that will soon happen on the farplane.” Tidus replied simply. “We will begin our journey towards Zanarkand again it seems.”
“We are to help squash their little rebellion against fate by using all the summoners and machina weapons and attacking them in the Calm Lands before they have a chance to remake Sin in Zanarkand.” Auron said with the same nondescript tone he always used.
It is time. The second part in my story is about to be written. But this time I know all the secrets that were kept from me. Tidus thought quietly to himself as he sat in the corridor surrounded by windows on the airship. It’s surprising. This is the same place where we all saw Evrae on our way to Bevelle to save Yuna from that creep Seymour.
“Ya’ know; as soon as we get to Besaid, there will be a lot of explanations that the people will want.” Wakka said as he stepped up beside him. “Especially why you’re going to the Chamber of The Fayth.”
“Let them wonder. We have a little less than twenty-eight days until the undead army breaches the Farplane barrier. Once that happens, I want everyone away from Guadosalam and the Thunder Plains.” Tidus replied with no light-heartedness or happiness in his voice. “We will not only have to gather the summoners but also a full army of warriors with machina weapons. Let’s not forget Yu Yevon can take over the aeons. We’ll have to be careful to destroy him once and for all first.”
“Just leave the warriors we need to me. I still haven’t forgiven Luzzu for convincing Chappu to join the Crusaders. He can finally make it up to me by gathering the warriors together. We can trust Rikku and Cid for the machina, brudda.”
“That may take care of that part but that still leaves the question of how we’re gonna both Seymour and Yunalesca at the same time?”
“Well you’ll have to think about that later as we’re about to land in Besaid village.” Yuna said from behind him. In the three years he had been in the deep dream of the dead nothing had changed about her except her wardrobe.
“Both of us will. I heard that Dona and Bartholomew are there right now. If that’s true, try to get them prepared by the time I get out of the Chamber of the Fayth. You’ll already have Valefor back and so will she so that’ll be two ready for the battle.” Tidus replied softly but surely.
“You can count on me and the other guardians to be ready for departure as soon as you go to the Trials.” Wakka said speaking up to both of them.
“Okay, but try to get Cid to send out a message across the airship channels to gather all the summoners at the airports for pick-up. We’ll have one shot at this, so we can’t fail. We have no other choice.”
Just as he finished off his final words, they broke the treetops that covered most of Besaid except for the village and road. The tiny town that remained in his mind seemed like a foreign landscape compared to this almost thriving suburban metropolis. It was a completely transformed Besaid.
The temple where he had seen Yuna for the first time was now less gargantuan compared the rest of the landscape. It seemed that the people had built individual mansions for each of the guardians that were still living.
He really no longer cared of what the future held for him just as long as Yuna and he were together. It had been three years since she had last seen him and he saw her. Now it was like they had never been apart. She truly was the person he wanted to spend eternity with. Just as she and Wakka walked back towards the bridge, Jecht came walking up.
“So, I see that the cords of friendship haven’t been severed by your absence, son.” He said just out of the blue. “I can tell that you and Yuna have some catching up to do. It shows that you love her all across your face. I remember when your mother and I first met. It was love the moment I saw her sweet face. She really didn’t care that I was a ragtag blitzer with a bad attitude. She was willing to love me for who I was.”
“That’s good, dad. By the way, can you still transform when you want to?” Tidus replied in an easygoing tone. “If you can control yourself while you’re in aeon form, we could use your help big time after Yevon is dead for the last time.”
“I can still do it. But what you should be concerned about is whether you are going to be able to focus on the battle with Yuna fighting right along side you.”
“I will not end the upcoming battle with her lying dead in my arms. I can’t stop her from fighting but I can at least protect her. I’m still her guardian even if I’ll soon be a summoner as well.”
Just then an announcement came from Cid over the intercom. “Guys, report to the docking bay for arrival at Besaid airport in less than one minute. Over.”
“Well it’s time for me to become the next summoner.” Tidus replied as they began walking towards the docking bay.
In less than one minute, he and everyone else was off the airship and already surrounded by the villagers that had once treated him rudely for going in after Yuna while she was in the Chamber of the Fayth. The very same Chamber he was headed to now.
He and Yuna walked briskly towards the temple and up the stairs through its entryway. When the old high priest walked out to greet them they just shook him off and continued on towards their goal. Yuna stopped once they reached the tall stairway that led up towards the Cloister of Trials and just sat down on the base of the statue the temple had built in honor of her father. Tidus just kept walking into the Trials. Through the fake wall with the glyphs on it, down the stairs grabbing the Besaid sphere as he went, opening the door at the bottom, on and on till he finally got to the place where the elevator would take him down to the Chamber. It was now time to let the fayth for Valefor become a part of him.
He walked into the prayer chamber and saw the fayth immediately rise out of the statue while the hymn was sang, making the silence leave the area.
“We know you have come to seek that which we can give you. The aeons will soon be a part of you so that you will be able to fight that which challenges you.” Said the spirit of the fayth. It was a woman that looked about thirty-five years old but had lived for over millennia. “It is our purpose to become one with the ones that require us.”
“Okay. Before I accept Valefor, I need to know how the undead army is planning to escape.” Tidus replied almost pleadingly. “There might be a way to stop them before this begins.”
“When beings of great power gather, their power can create or destroy. The beings you are to face choose to destroy out of endless hatred and rage. They will use their magic to destroy the only barrier that stops them from unleashing their hatred.” She answered, her voice vexing him deeply.
“You’re just speaking in riddles. Nothing you say is making any sense, but I guess that’s normal because the only straight statement I ever got from a fayth was from Seymour’s mom at Baaj temple.”
“They will combine their magic to destroy the barrier that stops them. That is all I will say. Now you must be quick about the acceptance.” She said.
She slowly stepped back about three feet in the air and then dived into his body. It was as if someone had taken a cannon and fired it at his chest. He felt her spirit become a small part of his. It felt as if the freedom of flight had become one with him as he slowly got to his knees. It was amazing!
Now I see why Yuna always went in by herself, there was an extreme feeling of intimacy between the fayth and me. It was like her spirit was devoted to helping just me right then. I’d better get back to the others and see what has been going on topside.
He walked back through the now open trial pathway and back through the doors at the top of the staircase leading down to the old prayer area. The high priest exclaimed excitedly once he saw Tidus descending the staircase.
“Come all. It is time to celebrate the birth of a new summoner and a new leader!” He nearly shouted to everyone in the temple but Tidus just merely shook his head and kept walking past him.
“Aren’t you a summoner now?” He asked expectantly.
“I am but I have no time for celebrations that will last for a day.” Tidus replied smartly.
“You made it. How was it up there.” Yuna asked expectantly as he got to her.
“I can see why you chose to be a summoner. It’s intense!” He replied excitedly. “It felt so amazing once I joined with the fayth. But I’m not saying that it didn’t hurt.”
“Yes, the joining normally does have a characteristic of doing that often.” She said as he took her in his arms and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Be careful. We’re in an old church, you know.”
“How can I forget? We first met each other here. It holds a certain amount of importance to me.”
“I know. It still seems unreal that all this is happening but then I look at all that I have seen in the last two days and I realize that I’m in the real world. Not your Zanarkand, the dream world.”
“Yes, of that I can assure you.” Tidus said, smiling. “Well I guess it’s time to get out of here and on to Kilika. At least we both know the full details of the mission this time.”
“Yes. I’m not the main summoner this time, either.” She replied as they walked out the door and down the main dirt road towards the airship platform.
From what he had heard from everyone, this world was a new place. It seemed there was no such thing as Yevon now, just the use of machina. The Al Bhed had rebuilt Home and ferries still ran the Al Bhed that had left to other islands and continents back to their Home. Kilika had finally finished up the rebuilding effort, too thanks to the help from pretty much all the blitz teams except for the Psyches. People still left the Mushroom Rock alone as a memoir to the fallen and remembrance of what Sin could do. It seemed like every village, city, and continent had its own airship now. People modified on the design Cid had so that there were different models all over Spira. The one thing that surprised him the most now was that people had actually rebuilt Zanarkand to its former glory.
This is just too weird. I can summon, dad, Auron, and Lord Braska are all back and weirdest of all Yu Yevon, that crazy creep Seymour, and that weird philosophical psycho Yunalesca are all coming for us. The twenty-year old man known as Tidus sat outside on the top of Cid’s airship, now named the Condor. It was moving swiftly through the night sky towards Kilika Island. They would be there in about half an hour and then he and Yuna would journey up towards the temple to pray to the fayth in command over Ifrit. As he sat at the bow staring off into the distance and the seemingly endless sea, he became suddenly aware that he had accidentally summoned Valefor out of the sky and how it had landed right behind him quite quickly.
Well at least this proves that I can summon now. He thought silently to himself as he got up and lightly scratched it’s neck. He had seen Yuna summon all throughout their journey together three years ago but he still couldn’t get over how cool it was to see creatures that were definitely not fiends or humans come down and fight for them. It was a truly unique experience.
He dismissed Valefor right as Lord Braska walked out onto the deck with him.
“So you are Jecht’s son. I guess that explains why he wanted Auron to go to Zanarkand and look after you until you were old enough to come to Spira.” Braska said to him.
“Uh, yeah. But why did you say stuff about Auron watching me till I came to Spira; or I should say till dad took me to Spira?” Tidus replied quizzically.
“Your father was always thinking about you during his journeys with Auron and I. I suppose he knew if Auron could find a way to reach Zanarkand, he could bring you back to the real world. He also said that you needed someone to hold your hand.”
“Figures. I used to hate him but I think that after spending all that time with Yuna and the others, I think I just gave it up. By the way; how did you and Auron come back to life?”
“The fayth are souls that were imprisoned in stone. They can move through both the realm of the living and that of the dead. They imbued Auron and I with the same abilities. We are now both fayth but we are not fayth.”
“Like a fayth, you are now confusing me.” Tidus said, shaking his head.
He sat back down and watched the village of Kilika come into view as Braska walked back inside the airship. Cid began slowing down the airship to dock as the Kilika airport directed them to a free anchor point. The party walked off and on to the harbor town of Kilika while Cid stayed on to do the post-flight checks. They made their way through the mid-sized village towards the Inn. About two minutes later en route, Dona and Bartholomew walked up quickly to them.
“It’s about time you got here. I was starting to worry you weren’t going to invite us to this little war you guys are throwing. Yuna; I see you are still hanging around with many guardians.” Dona said warmly.
“Well these are not my guardians this time around. There is more than just one summoner on this pilgrimage. My father is joining us. Tidus is a summoner now as well.” Yuna replied with a friendly tone.
“Good. It shows that everyone is serious about the threat that approaches.”
Meanwhile Bartholomew had walked up to both Braska and Jecht, asking to shake their hands like usual. “Please. I just want to shake your hand once.” He kept almost begging to Jecht just kept saying it was nothing. Meanwhile Lulu and Wakka had began walking again towards the Inn while Rikku had gone back to check on the airship and her dad. Kimahri stood beside Tidus and Auron near his original party.
After they told Dona when they would be heading towards Djose and what time for her and Bartholomew to board the airship, the rest of them continued to the Inn to get a room.
The sun slowly faded across the horizon, lighting up the sky in a myriad of colors as Tidus and Yuna walked towards the area where she had performed her first sending. The water had since been cleared of the bodies that had lied there, leaving behind nothing but a clear space stretching out to the open ocean. They were four days into their journey but it felt as though they had been going on for eternity together.
“This world is truly a new place than the Spira I knew back three years ago. That world was full of mystery and intrigue, but also full of plenty of psychos. It’s still surprising that all this is going on right now. But I’ve given up trying to figure it out.” He said as she rested her head on his shoulder while they were sitting beside the water. “I guess that the spiral that surrounded it finally became more of a orchestra of life than that of death.”
“Yes, I agree Spira has changed. But that does not matter now that Sin is dead and you have finally returned.” She replied softly while leaning up and kissing him gently.
“The future is uncertain and the past is unchangeable so we might as well focus on the present.” She said as they got up and slowly walked back to the Inn.
The next day as Rikku went on different airship towards Bikanel to tell the rest of the Al Bhed about the battle, Yuna and Tidus continued on through the jungle at the base of the mountain where the temple in Kilika rested. Wakka and Lulu had decided to contact the warrior monks in Bevelle and had also taken an airship towards the city. Kimahri and the rest of the group stayed behind at the Inn to wait for departure.
Just as they were about to round the last bend to get to the stairs at the base of the temple, the ground started shaking beneath their very feet.
“What in Yevon’s name is going on!?” Tidus yelled to Yuna, as the gigantic earthquake continued on for a moment.
As soon as the earth stopped shaking, a human-like figure stepped out in front of them. As it moved closer, they could tell it was anything but human. Its head was like that of a Chimera as it had horns and a long snout with huge fangs. Across its armored chest was the symbol of Yu Yevon. It had an odd assortment of appendages. Instead of arms, it had two tentacles on each side that resembled Marlboro tentacles. Its legs were like living sphere water that someone had colored blood red.
It took two steps towards them and then spoke in a voice so harsh it sounded like someone was scraping nails across a chalkboard. “I come in service of the Undead Alliance. I am Narok, chief general of the Undead Army. I have come to warn you with a special message directly from Lord Seymour. It says exactly this: ‘Sin may be destroyed but the spiral of death that Spira lives in will continue. I will set all of Spira free from the pain of the miserable lives. I will destroy Spira and save it.’ You shall not see me again until I put you in your graves once the barrier around the Farplane goes down.” It ended with one truly malevolent smile as it dissipated into pyreflies and floated upwards, back to the realm of the dead.
They continued up the long staircases to the entrance of Kilika temple. This time, however, Yuna followed him into the Cloister of Trials. They went down to the Trials through the elevator and the big chamber like door. Ignite the door then take out the Kilika sphere. Continue on through the main chamber and extinguish the flame blocking your path. Set the final door a flame then remove the sphere again and exit the Trials and enter the Chamber of the Fayth. These were motions Tidus had already been through before so it was simple and easy.
As they entered the prayer chamber, the sweet music of the Hymn of the Fayth hit their ears, greeting them softly. The statue where the fayth resided changed from the stone it had became after they had defeated Sin to a real being with very interesting features. The fayth in control of Ifrit was a man of about forty who was a scary figure but very gentle it appeared. He spoke calmly to them as he prepared Tidus for joining.
“Your journey is getting more interesting by the moment, young summoner. We will continue to watch you and aid you should you need us. But of course you have already proved that you do not need the aeons to defeat Yu Yevon. Good luck, my master.” It finished with a smile as it leapt into Tidus’ body.
They left the temple and went back through the jungle to the main village. They boarded the airship and left to the next temple. Tidus and Yuna decided on waiting outside because of the calm of the passing landscape. However, about an hour before they were set to reach Djose something weird yet dangerous happened.
The passing sky around them began to change colors to a deep red like that of blood. It became almost palpable. It was like being surrounded by blood on all sides. The doors leading back to the ship behind them opened and Auron, Braska, and Jecht, and Kimahri, Dona, and Bartholomew ran out.
“It comes!” Auron yelled as a massive fiend appeared at the bow of the ship directly in front of them.
“What in Spira is it!?” Tidus hollered to the group behind him.
“We don’t know. We started to get readings about one minute ago of a fiend approaching from the north. We got out as fast as we could.” Dona replied loudly as the monster took a step towards them.
“Well then let’s take care of it!” Tidus yelled back as the group ran towards it.
The monster it self mostly resembled a Defender Z but was more human shaped and bigger. Tidus led the assault, leaping high in the air and flipping over it, landing behind it and slashing at its back with his Caladbolg. Yuna and Dona stayed back from it, chanting white magic spells with their ornate rods to heal the party since it was too crowded to summon any aeons. Auron and Kimahri ran around slashing and chopping away at its arms and legs with the Masamune and Spirit Lance while Braska cast multiple high level black magic spells against its gigantic armored torso. Jecht and Tidus seemed to fall in sync with each other and were pulling extreme combo attacks on the beast.
It finally got in one attack before falling, however. It flailed its arms wildly trying to knock the group back. It finally succeeded in connecting with Tidus and threw him back completely off his feet and towards the edge as it fell into nothing more than pyreflies.
Tidus couldn’t stop his fall backwards and slipped over the side of the airship but luckily caught the side of it on one of the missile bays. Jecht ran over to try and pull him up. He was one instant to late as Tidus’ grip slipped and he began to fall towards the sea beneath him.
It seemed the sea flew up to meet him as he fell like a gigantic stone. Just then, the weirdest thing happened.
The entire world seemed as though someone had just cast an ultimate stop spell on it. Tidus himself had stopped in midair during his fall to the sea.
“I’m disappointed in you, Tidus. You seemed to have learned so much yet have just proved that you are far from ready to fight the Alliance.” Said the fayth in control of Bahamut. “Once you have unlocked your true potential; the aeons, Yu Yevon, Yunalesca, and even Seymour will be no match for you. Since you and your friends came in contact with Sin and defeated it, you have the ability to create or destroy using only your mind.”
“I will help you start to unlock your mind and help you out of this predicament.” It finished as a swirling light like a gigantic pyrefly surround him and took the shape of his outer body.
He could feel his body grow at least ten times stronger but it felt as though something was about to poke through the back of his shirt. In fact, something did. Wings similar to Bahamut’s but smaller grew out through the back of his shirt, the base stretching from about his shoulders to his waist line.
As soon as his wings finished growing, the fayth disappeared and the world began moving again. He continued to fall until his wings started flapping and he did a back handspring right on top of the water, landing on a mat of pure air and then zooming upwards back to the airship faster than the airship it self was traveling.
The airship itself had stopped and apparently and was searching for a splash in the water to locate him. He must have heard at least five gasps from the group who were looking over the edge for him as he came up behind the airship and landed behind them.
“That’s impossible!” Rikku shouted as they turned to face him. “We saw you fall! It’s a trick done by the pyreflies!”
“This is not impossible and very real. Let’s just say that I had some help from my inner potential and the fayth that made me.” He replied with a smile as they finally approached. “I just discovered I have some unique abilities that just haven’t surfaced yet. The fayth that commands Bahamut helped me to unchain one of them from their prison inside my mind.”
“Incredible! If I didn’t know better I’d say that Bahamut gave you miniature versions of his wings.” Braska said with such exclamation that it surprised even Tidus.
“Lord Braska, why don’t we discuss this inside as it is somewhat crowded up here?” Auron said as he walked back through the door into the ship. All but Yuna walked in with him as she just stayed there looking at him for what seemed like an eternity.
“I knew this would happen. When this whole thing began the fayth that just gave you those wings said that we would be clad in an armor given to us by the aeons. I didn’t want anyone to know this but…” Her voice trailed off as she also began growing wings through the back of her shirt. “I learned to control in about an hour. I can make them grow back in our stay out. See, you just concentrate hard and they’ll disappear.”
“Now I get what he was saying about my mind being able to create or destroy.” Tidus replied as he also began concentrating.
The wings on his back slowly disappeared. He fixed his shirt then got ready to go back in.
“Hey Yuna, if this can be done with only our minds; couldn’t we, like think that everyone on Spira has this ability and concentrate on it and everyone really will?” Tidus asked expectantly.
“I don’t know. I guess we could but it would probably take some time.” She replied softly.
“Ok. Well then let’s at least concentrate on Auron, Kimahri, Dona, Bartholomew, your father, my old man, and everyone else in our little party.”
“Roger.” She replied with a smile.
They walked back into the ship, both concentrating on the task at hand. To the amazement of everyone else on the Condor, the rest of the people aboard began sprouting Bahamut’s wings through their backs. After Tidus and Yuna finally told them about the new ability they had, they retracted the wings. A little after this they landed in Djose to get Ixion.
It was surprising that the temples even still existed since Yevonism was a non-existent religion now. They still believed in the base principles but they no longer believed that Yu Yevon was anything but an extremely powerful fiend and the cause for Sin’s thousand year torment of Spira. The ex high priest in Besaid said to Tidus that they were monuments for the fallen summoners and for the fayth whose lives had been ended by that maniac.
They touched down outside the town of Djose, which had grown considerably in size since their last time there. Cid and the Condor took off again, no longer needed thanks to the party’s newfound abilities. Everyone but Auron and Kimahri also took off with their own wings for flight. The four set off to get to the Djose temple and begin the next leg of their journey.
To their surprise Rikku, Wakka, and Lulu were waiting outside the town for them.
“You got somethin’ to tell us, brudda?” Wakka asked them. They all had very nervous yet quizzical looks on their faces. “Somethin’ tells me that you got somethin’ to do with what we just found out we could do.”
They all three sprouted their wings, looking like live gargoyles. Tidus and Yuna just stood there, fighting smiles but losing tremendously. It was all they could to stop from roaring with laughter.
“Bah! I knew it. You two got some explainin’ to do, ya.” He said also with a smile. “I’m just shocked it’s not Rikku’s fault.” He said referring to the time back when he hated the Al Bhed and Rikku once he discovered she was one of them.
“We did give you the wings as well as some other talents that all of us need to unlock and learn but we weren’t the originators of these abilities. The fayth showed Tidus and I the way first and how to use what we had. We just figured out a way to give it to others.” Yuna replied, still smiling. She then broke into a discussion about how concentration and belief was the key, finally finishing about a half an hour later.
“Well, that takes care of my questions. We should get moving into Djose and the Inn since it will be dark in about two hours.” Lulu said with an actual smile for the first time that Tidus had known her. Unless she was talking about Chappu or Wakka and their relationship, she normally was as emotionless as was probably humanly possible.
They walked into Djose after withdrawing their wings and taking care of a pair of Anacondaurs that slowed down their entrance.
Flying through the sky on your own wings is like swimming through a deep pool of water around you but you aren’t able to feel it. It was exhilarating! The air around them would grow thin or thick as they went higher or lower. Since it was night-time now because they decided to leave immediately, it was much harder to avoid the tips of trees so they followed the main path, surprising the few travelers beneath them as they flew by. Around a bend on their right the Moonflow came into view, it was beautiful!
Yuna had told him on their first visit here that, “It is said at night that pyreflies come out near the moonlilies and the water surface would glow like the stars above.” She was right. There were pyreflies everywhere, like the Zanarkand Ruins three years ago. Watching them was like watching a meteor shower in slow motion right beside you.
As they flew close to the water’s surface Tidus smiled to Yuna as she was looking down at the long-buried city beneath them. She returned the smile and pointed slightly up to the moon above them, reminiscing about the night a little over three years ago after they had escaped Bevelle and were hiding in the Macalania woods.
“Yo guys, I think I see the tree that Guadosalam was built in.” Rikku hollered as she flew up high into the sky. She dived back down towards the party as they all took off flying at top speed towards the Guado city. The shoopuf and its passengers moved slowly underneath them with the passengers pointing and staring as they moved even faster towards Guadosalam.
The group touched down just outside of Guadosalam to find Guado bodies strewn around the entrance like the aftermath of Operation Miihen. The two that were not dead yet but dying fast were mumbling over and over the same words and nothing else. “Lor…Lord Se…Seymour.”
Those words alone spoke volumes as the party rushed into the city. The Guado palace lay in ruins and the bridge across the second story had collapsed. Miraculously, the one leading to the Farplane was still intact but many Guado bodies lying on or around it. There was a multitude of dead Guado and Warrior Monks scattered across the scene. The only building in Guadosalam that had not sustained damage was the Inn as its front door was closed but still whole.
The party opened it and walked through to find about twenty Guado lying on the floor, shuddering and holding on tight to each other as if they feared they would be pulled apart. The innkeeper behind the counter peeked his head up above only to let out a scream the next second.
“Aaah! The demons have broken through!” He screamed as he dived back down under the counter. It was then the party realized they had forgot to retract their wings when they went in. They did so and then finally convinced the innkeeper and the rest of the remaining Guado that they weren’t demons. After that was finished, that’s when the questions began.
Tidus was the first to ask. “Ok. I need to know who or what did this to all of you? This place is a bigger wreck than the Djose shores three years ago.”
It was a Guado boy of about twelve who was the first to answer. “It was a peaceful day today but around sundown when most of the village visits the Farplane, something strange happened. We were at the Farplane but it had been completely transformed and destroyed. Then the pyreflies started doing something odd. It was like the pyreflies took the memories of all the dead up there and gave them life again. I saw my dead father come out with a whole horde beside him and started destroying the city. It was like they had no memory of us whatsoever.” He said as he broke down into tears as who was probably his mother comforted him.
Another finished his story. “They began to destroy the city and the warrior monks tried to save us and get the ones who were still alive here. They barred the door and we braced it with chairs and other things until we didn’t hear any more sounds coming from outside. We were still too scared to even go out and check. Then you people showed up.”
“There is no remainder of the horde you talked about, though. There were no zombies or undead out there when we arrived but we ought to go out and bury the dead that are out there and give them a proper sending.” Auron said to the group as he turned around and walked back out the door.
“Yes. I think that would be the proper thing to do.” Yuna replied.
“Hey guys, if the army was people from the Farplane; shouldn’t we be careful about who we send there?” Rikku asked. “I mean, we would just be adding fuel to Seymour’s army, right?”
“Kimahri think that dead should be sent but Kimahri and others should visit Farplane.” Kimahri answered.
“You’re right, brudda. That way we might out somethin’ about Seymour, ya’ know.” Wakka said.
“I agree. Ok, we’ll send the dead and then go to the Farplane. But be ready for anything.” Lulu finished.
They set to work gathering both the dead Guado and warrior monks and bringing them into groups to be sent by either Tidus or Yuna. The work lasted about two hours and finally the job was done, it was time to go to the Farplane, themselves.
Pressing through the barrier surrounding the lookout point, they came to the landing above the clouds. They activated their wings and took off the ground and came to a hover right above the cloud tops. The dense, yellow fog slowly dissipated, revealing a foreign landscape and a very disturbing image. The once beautiful paradise known as the Farplane had been twisted and warped so that it appeared just a shell of its former beauty. The waterfall near the visiting platform they were on was no longer water, but a blood from every race of Spira. The smell itself was horrendous!
Looking farther towards the horizon they saw that the small prairie at the base of the bloodfall was now burnt and charred with very little foliage remaining whatsoever. It as if something had used a massive Firaga spell to destroy what was left of the land.
Flying down beneath the lookout they saw what was with out a doubt the most terrifying sight any of them had ever seen. The pyreflies were all turning blood red and then joining together and forming the bodies of the dead! They would then go and join large regiments of other undead with the three most evil beings in both the living and underworld commanding them. Seymour and Yunalesca were shouting orders and rallying the troops. The army of undead just stood there like trained militia with out thought or action.
Just then they saw Narok and five other beings just like him gathering together behind Seymour, who happened to have gone through another transformation and now looked like a humanoid version of Anima but with the same color his other transformations had. Yu Yevon then appeared above the generals and made what must have been five duplicates of his body and descended into the generals to control them.
“Gunak! Gunak Meg Infasto!” Yelled something as they looked below them to see a fiend of some sort beneath them, pointing at them.
“Oh crap! Um guys, I think they know we’re here now.” Rikku said nervously as Seymour shouted something and a three of the generals started to come after them.
“Move!” Auron yelled back.
The group began to fly upwards towards the boundary entrance, turning behind them to see that the generals were still on the ground. “Hey guys, they can’t fly so let’s take them down from right here using spells. Holy should work.” Tidus hollered.
The beings that were like Narok just smiled and grew wings like those of a Zu and took of towards the group.
“Uh oh, brudda. I think you spoke to soon.” Wakka said as the group began flying again as fast as possible.
There was no contest when it came to speed against the generals. Gaining fast, the group soon found themselves nearly right in front of the creatures; so close in fact that one of them actually flung one of his tentacles out towards the group. It barely missed Kimahri and Tidus but one person was not so lucky. The tentacle struck Rikku square in the back of the head, effectively knocking her out as well as poisoning her because it was a Marlboro tentacle.
“Rikku, no!” Tidus shouted at the top of her lungs as she began falling towards the ground.
He dove at top speed towards her and nearly caught up to her but one of the creatures got in his way and tried to attack him. Tidus pulled out his Caladbolg while still in mid-dive and slashed completely through the creature, cutting his body into two now falling pieces. It was to late for Rikku however as her body stopped two feet short of the ground as she had been caught by one of Yunalesca’s tentacles and pulled towards the evil alliance.
“We have to go, Tidus! It’s too late! We have to regroup before we fight them to get her back!” Wakka yelled, grimacing.
“She was the one who rescued me when I first landed in Spira; I’ve got to help her out now! I’m not letting that damned psycho Seymour turn her into another one of his zombies to be killed in the Calm Lands! I’d die before anyone that I know helps him out.” Tidus hollered back, between slashes through the rest of the Narok copies. After about two minutes, all the creatures trying to kill them were laying in misshapen pieces under them.
“Guys, use your heads. If we leave her down there for now, we can surely bet Seymour, Yunalesca, and Yu Yevon wouldn’t hesitate to kill her off and use the power we all have against her. Instead of using our weapons; lets’ use our minds.” Lulu said with no tone in her voice like usual. Hard as it was for them to admit that they weren’t right, they had to because they both knew she was right.
“I got it! The fayth said that we had the power to create or destroy with just our minds. Let’s all concentrate at the same time and every pyrefly down there.” Yuna said calm but definitely serious.
Following her and Lulu’s ideas, they began concentrating and imaging that all the pyreflies were nonexistent. Soon, the soldiers in the alliance’s massive army began to disappear. Their bodies would dissipate in pyreflies and then they would just fade into oblivion. Yunalesca shouted a command out to the last remaining soldiers to start battling them using their magic. The soldiers could have definitely killed them easily as there were at least three thousand of them about to all cast spells at the same time.
Yuna broke off her concentration for a minute as she used a seventh level white magic spell to create a super-powerful magic Nul Spell around the group, stopping all magic from even touching him. Tidus could just sit back and smile in admiration; even after Sin was gone she still learned all she could just in case.
Yuna began to concentrate again as the group kept reducing the soldiers’ remnants till there were about five hundred left. Tidus stopped concentrating and began flying faster than any of them had ever gone as he went in a straight line to where Rikku was lying on the ground near Seymour.
“Seymour!” He yelled as he pulled the Caladbolg from its sheath and dove straight towards him. He would end it here and now.
Right before the sword would have struck Seymour, the fiendish bastard leapt out of the way and then tried to counterattack using an Ultimaga spell. Tidus cut him off before he had a chance to finish summoning the magic to do it. With a slash straight through his chest, Seymour fell to the ground as something weird and terrifying began. He tried to say something but it only came out in parts. “I… using dreams…the key of Maorix…world is mine.”
His odd muttered words had no meaning to Tidus who began concentrating as hard as he could and started making Seymour’s pyrefly troupe disappear. Auron, Wakka, and Yuna were fighting Yunalesca, who had turned into her final form again and was continually trying multiple failed attempts at casting Mega-Death. Kimahri and Lulu had Yu Yevon backed in between his Pagodas again and were making quick work of him too. Tidus shouted to them to let them know that Seymour was gone and he had Rikku as he flew out of the Farplane and gave to the Innkeeper to take care of.
By the time he returned to the battle scene, Lulu and Yuna were trying with some success to return the Farplane to its old condition using multiple castings of the fifth level Cure spell named Curagata. The river and waterfall were hardest though because of the blood in them. Once it was gone Lulu used a casting of Wateragata Fury to make the waterfall actually run again. Then it was finally time to leave the Farplane.
Back in the real world at the Inn in Guadosalam, the group finally had a few hours to relax and try to connect the events of the last day. If it could be called anything, it should have been called a trip through Heaven and Hell. Rikku was still unconscious but it seemed that the antidote that they found for the poison was finally starting to work.
“Ok, it looks like we took care of that troublesome three once and for all; but what exactly did Seymour say, Tidus?” Yuna asked, smiling at him with her smile that melted his heart every time she even looked.
After thinking and recalling Seymour’s cryptic final words Tidus then replied, “He said something like ‘using dreams, the Key of Maorix, and how the world was his.”
“Ah, so that’s how he planned to destroy Spira. The Key of Maorix was created about six hundred years after Sin destroyed Zanarkand. It was created by a cast out summoner who went by the name of Lord Gashin. Around the time Gashin completed the Key, the area he was living at the time was attacked by Sin. Gashin’s body was found but not the Key.” Auron said. “That was the last that Spira ever heard of him or his creations.”
“But what is the Key?” Lulu asked to the surprise of everyone. She usually knew the most of everyone in the group.
“The Key would be the main attack force behind the Alliance. It is a magical artifact of unimaginable powers. It was rumored that its name came from a long destroyed city called Maorix Prime. The city was buried by an aeon named Colossus said to be far stronger than Sin. It was said that the key could only be used by a summoner whose pilgrimage was completed. The Key drew the fayth out of the summoner’s body and into it. The fayth called the aeons they controlled and the key somehow merged them together to Colossus.”
“Sounds like a fairytale that most of the world forgot, ya’ know.” Wakka answered.
“It is as real as any of us standing here.” Auron said.
“How would Seymour use it, though? You said that it could only be a summoner who had already completed their pilgrimage. Seymour is dead and can only summon Anima. He hasn’t done any sort of pilgrimage yet.”
“Perhaps he would have used the temples in each of the villages before he burnt them down. Anyway, I am going to sleep now. I suggest all of you do the same.”
“Why?” Tidus asked.
“Because if Seymour knew where the key was, what’s to stop someone else from finding it and using it as well. We need to start our own search for it.” He replied as he turned and walked towards his room.
Tidus and Yuna got up to go to their room as well as Tidus thought silently to himself, I thought the journey was over but it looks like I’ve still got a lot to do. He thought as he smiled to Yuna once she slipped her arm around his waist on the way in to the room. If I’ve got to live through a tough life, I might as well spend it with my friends and the girl I love.
Meanwhile, something began to stir in the depths of the underworld beyond the Farplane.
Yuna woke up about five hours after she and Tidus had finally fallen asleep in each other’s arms. Tidus was still sleeping soundly as she got up and walked back into the common room in the Inn. Auron and Kimahri were still awake and standing near the front door to the Inn, guarding it she supposed. They were deep in conversation and hadn’t noticed her yet so she got a little closer to try to hear what they were saying.
“Kimahri think that we should finish pilgrimage up to Bevelle. Then Kimahri go gather other Ronso and we start looking for Key.” Kimahri said, always finding some way to talk in third person like most Ronso did. “Kimahri think that we need large group to help find Key quickly.”
“I agree Kimahri. After Bevelle, I’ll stay with the Tidus and Yuna. However, I think that the others should be used to gather what truly loyal allies we have. I don’t know why, but I have a strong feeling that it’s not over yet.” Auron said, with his constant seriousness present even now. “I know we can trust the Crusaders, Al Bhed, and Ronso but I am not so sure about the warrior monks and their maester, Hiroc. I don’t trust him after how the maesters betrayed us three years ago. Before we go in to more detail, however, we might want to acknowledge a guest in our midst.” Auron finished as he turned to face Yuna and just nodded.
Kimahri walked towards her and checked she was; just like him, always worrying about her before himself. After he was done, they both walked back over to Auron and started planning again.
“As I was saying, I don’t trust Hiroc. After your original misguided views about the maesters, Yuna, I have no doubt that the Yevonists would try to put one of their own back in office. There is an unique aura about Hiroc, much like that of an unsent but changed, somehow.” Auron said.
“Are you saying that Hiroc might be an unsent?” Yuna asked, intrigued.
“Possibly. I don’t know what is wrong about him but something is not right. He is not who he seems so we must be on our guard at all times.” Auron replied.
“Kimahri and rest of guardians besides Auron will gather allies. Wakka and Lulu get Crusaders and Rikku gather Al Bhed. Ronso will fight to death if needed.” Kimahri said, still talking in third person.
“I don’t think we’ll need all those allies just to find the Maorix Key, but it might be useful. Once all the guardians get everyone else, lets’ concentrate on providing them with what we have.” Yuna said, referring to their unique intellectual talents.
***
Back in the darkest reaches of the Farplane, the half-human, half-guado being known as Seymour clung desperately to life. With every ounce of his energy and life that he had remaining he started to chant something to try to heal himself and preserve his life.
“Ardente veritate, u…urite mala mundi. Ardente ver…veritate, incendite tene…tenebras m…mundi.” He said as he completed the chant. It was an ancient spell that he had learned from Yunalesca in case something like this ever happened.
As he finished the spell, he began to feel his body come alive again. The pyreflies that were continuously coming to the Farplane every time a person or fiend died started to gather together and remade his body and healed him. He made a mental note to thank Yunalesca if she ever used the ‘rebirth’ spell as she called it, as he laughed out loud.
Once the pyreflies finished their work, he looked down at himself. Instead of the fiendish armor that he used to wear, it was a semi-body armor that looked like Anima’s body, but with out the venous flytrap style wraps he had around his sides. Out of the back of it and his back protruded a pair of wings that resembled those of and angel except they were red like the color of blood.
He began to beat his wings back and forth, harder and harder until his new appendages lifted his body off the ground. Smiling to himself, he started to fly upwards towards the semi-permeable barrier at the top of the Farplane. He soon realized, however, that it would take more than three days to reach it even flying at top speed. I must have been unconscious for a long time before I landed, he thought to himself as he just settled himself in for the long ride.
“I will have my vengeance on those mortals for this setback before I finish my plan. I must eliminate them once and for all before I attempt anything. They have proved to be more than a nuisance; I’ll give them that. No matter, the Key of Maorix is mine and everything is falling to place as it was foretold.” He said, smiling at himself and his plan with the smile that could kill a Marlboro.
Meanwhile, the group had all awakened and was setting of for Macalania Temple beyond the Thunder Plains.
***
Tidus just walked on the ground towards the Travel Agency while he watched the group try to dodge to bolts while flying. Not very smart to fly during a storm, he thought to himself as he put his hands behind his head and just kept walking, dodging the lightning himself whenever necessary.
He turned around after he heard someone land behind him and saw Yuna withdraw her wings and walk up beside him.
“Come on, let’s go.” She said as she started walking towards the Travel Agency. He smiled, she was every thing to him and he couldn’t bear to lose her, but what would happen after this was over. Would the fayth be kind to him unlike last time, or would we just simply disappear again.
I guess I’ll just take it one day at a time with Yuna, then. He thought to himself as they reached the front door to the Travel Agency.
As the rest of the group came through the door and checked in their rooms, Tidus went over to the Traveler’s Sphere and healed himself. Realizing that it had been nearly eleven days since the Blitz Tournament in Luca, he decided it was time to play. He looked over to Wakka who nodded and then Tidus touched the Save Sphere.
As soon as he touched the sphere, Tidus was transported to the Aurochs’ locker room in Luca. It was amazing what the Save Spheres could do. The rest of the Aurochs looked up at him as the next match between them and the Ronso Fangs was announced. Nearly in unison, they walked to the doorway that led to the Sphere pool and prepared their bodies and minds for the game.
Tidus swam out to the Midfielder position, flanked by Ropp as the Left Forward and Letty as the Right. Behind him, Botta and Jassu had taken up their spots as the two Defenders and Keepa was ready in the goalpost.
The scoreboard changed to the Aurochs’ and Fangs’ symbols with zeros underneath. The blitzball started spinning in the middle of the sphere and then as a buzzer went off, shot upward towards the top of the sphere, followed closely by Tidus and Argai Ronso.
Argai caught it first and began swimming towards Keepa and the Aurochs’ goal. Ropp and Letty swam up beside him in a pincer formation and immediately went on tough defense. Ropp did a Nap Tackle III and got close to putting Argai to sleep, but he still failed against the giant Ronso. Letty then swam straight at him while his back was turned and performed a second level Wither Tackle and took him down.
Letty began swimming to the right side of the sphere and, as soon as Ganza and Irga Ronso were going to try to tackle him, forwarded the ball across the sphere to Ropp. Ropp swam nearly right up to the Fangs’ goalkeeper, Zamzi Ronso, along with more than half of the Fangs. He dropped a pass back to Tidus.
Tidus had the ball above his head and did a somewhat slow back flip to do the Sphere Shot and sent the ball flying over the Fangs’ goalkeeper and into the goal for the Aurochs’ first point of the game at four minutes and forty-eight seconds. The halftime buzzer sounded shortly after.
Everyone got back into position for the second launching of the blitzball. Argai caught it again but this time threw it straight to Basik Ronso, his Left Forward. Since the Ronso were generally slow in the water, Ropp and Botta had caught up with him about the time he was halfway through the Aurochs’ territory. Basik decided not to give them the chance to take the ball back and passed it past them to Ganza, who was very close to Keepa, the Aurochs goalkeeper.
Ganza dropped the ball in front of him and did a second level Volley Shot. As it shot back and forth through the water and eventually towards the goal, Keepa leapt diagonally upwards at it and narrowly caught it as it soared by through the water. Seven minutes had passed in the game time as Keepa through it back out to Jassu.
Jassu began swimming along the right side of Blitz Sphere as Ganza and Irga began chasing him to past the half way point in the Sphere. Irga was the first to catch him and did a nasty third level Venom Tackle and poisoned him. Jassu fortunately weathered the attack and forwarded the ball to Letty, sailing over Ganza’s head.
Letty was already nearly next to the Fangs’ goal when he caught the blitzball. Nuvy Ronso, the Fangs’ other Defender, reached him. She tried to use a third level Drain Tackle but Letty evaded and kicked the ball at what seemed like the speed of a bullet towards the goal.
The goalkeeper didn’t even have a chance to try to leap in front of the ball’s path before it slammed into the upper-left corner of the goal. The crowd cheered crazily as the scoreboard change to Aurochs-two, Fangs-zero with only one minute left in the game.
Everyone swam back to their spots as the blitzball was set to launch again. The ball began to spin and then shot upwards in the water, followed closely by Argai and Tidus. Argai wasn’t quick enough this time as Tidus caught it and threw it down to Ropp.
Ropp was already on the move to his forwarding spot when he caught the ball. Tidus was about halfway into the Fangs territory when Ropp threw it back to him. Immediately, Irga and Nuvy Ronso began swimming towards him to try to stop him from scoring one last time.
Jecht Shot time! He thought as he kicked the ball at Nuvy and then pounded it into Irga once it returned. Spinning high in the water, he connected with the rising blitzball with the force of two trains slamming into each other. It flew through the water and right past the goalie for one last point before the final buzzer rang for Time Up.
There is just something about winning a game of blitzball that not even defeating a very powerful fiend can beat, he thought as he climbed out of the water and walked over to the Sphere. Teleporting instantly back to the Thunder Plains travel agency he found that everyone else besides Kimahri had rented a room and had left to go rest already.
He nodded to Kimahri as a silent understanding passed between them. Tidus had been feeling the ominous presence since they had left Guadosalam. It was frightening and chilling, like standing knee deep in a pool of freezing water. Kimahri and Tidus both knew that somehow, someway it wasn’t over yet.
Kimahri nodded back as Tidus walked off to the room Yuna had rented for them. Yuna had taken a shower and was recording something in a sphere while sitting on the bed when he walked in. She hadn’t heard him close the door so he listened for a moment.
“Right now we’re at the Thunder Plains Travel Agency for a rest. It has been about a day now since we fought Seymour inside of the Farplane in Guadosalam. I think that everyone that is with me right now feels the same thing that I do. It is a sense of apprehension that something is right. Like our battle with the Undead Alliance isn’t over yet. I guess we’ll just take it one day at a time until we know the truth.” She said as she stopped the sphere.
“Hey.” He said to her as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms on her shoulders. This was how it ended after Sin had been destroyed but he would not let it happen again.
They sat there for a few moments before Yuna turned around and a string of passionate kisses began.
***
Lulu was walking over to the Items lady when she heard an odd sound. It was indescribable out there. She could still hear the storm but something was not as it seemed out there. She looked at Kimahri as if to ask him if he had heard it as well and saw that he was looking around while his lion-sized ears were twitching. He grabbed his Spirit Lance and stood near the door.
The sound slowly grew louder and louder until everyone else was awake because of it. Tidus came out of his room and was already pulling out his Caladbolg when suddenly, the sound stopped completely.
Wakka walked up to them and asked, “What was that just now.”
“I don’t know Wakka. I think that you, Kimahri, Auron and me should go outside and check around just to be safe. I don’t know about you, but ever since we left Guadosalam I’ve had this weird feeling it the pit of my stomach.” Tidus said to him as he walked towards the door.
They walked outside and began checking around near the Inn for anything unusual. Kimahri still guarded the door and was ready for battle with his Spirit Lance drawn and out in front of him. Suddenly, Braska and Jecht stepped out of the shadows from behind them.
“Hey, you’re back. How ya’ doing? Was that just you now, thought?” Tidus asked them.
“Yes it was. We’re fine, however; we bring troublesome news from the fayth at Bevelle.” Braska replied. “He informed me about your battle and victory over the Alliance but he also told me to regroup with you and deliver you this message from him. ‘The same power that you have unlocked within yourselves has been awakened by the last remaining undead, Seymour. You must warn those you meet but continue on the pilgrimage at least until you reach me.’ That is all.”
“But that’s impossible! I killed Seymour myself and then used my mind to destroy all the pyreflies in the Farplane to ensure that he wouldn’t be able to make it back. How can he still be alive?”
“You’re forgettin’ something, son. There are fiends being destroyed in every corner of Spira at every moment. The pyreflies return to the Farplane and Seymour probably used them to revive himself.” Jecht said.
By that time, everyone that was still in the Inn when they went outside had come out and knew the truth. It was unanimously decided that they would leave within the hour and continue towards the temple at Macalania. As everyone was gathering their gear as well as warning the employees at the Inn about the trouble coming their way, Tidus noticed something strange happening outside. The fiends who would normally just attack whenever and wherever they wanted were all heading south as if they were going to Guadosalam.
“Seymour’s new found abilities.” Lulu said from behind him. “To the fiends he is like them because he is made of pyreflies now but he is controlling them, it seems.”
“Damn it! You mean that Seymour now has control over the fiends now brudda?” Wakka asked her. “Oh this is great. We had trouble just beating his army back at the Farplane but now we got to destroy all the fiends in Spira too, ya’ know.”
“Not necessarily. Once I finish my pilgrimage in Bevelle, I don’t know why but I feel that the full potential of my mind’s abilities will be awakened. The fayth said that once I unlocked those parts of my mind, I and the ones that also have the power would be able to create or destroy as we want.” Tidus replied, deep in thought. “At any rate, we might want to hurry. Screw the lightning and let’s fly at top speed towards Macalania, okay?”
“Got it. I’ll tell everyone else to get ready for a little dodging.”
As they walked outside the Travel Agency, O’aka’s kid brother Wantz passed by and took their picture as he waved. After he started running again towards the Macalania Forest near the O’aka Merchant Empire headquarters, the group grew out their wings and took off.
It was much more of a challenge to fly around up here while the storm was in constant motion. Dodging left and right whenever a lightning bolt would strike, the made their way north towards Lake Macalania. Once they finally made it past the Thunder Plains and started out above the forest, they dropped down to the ground to warn O’aka about Seymour’s coming.
“Ah, it’s that bastard again, wouldn’t ya’ know. First he throws me in jail for selling me goods and then my brother here nearly dies when he assaults Mt. Gagazet. I’d like to kill him again and see how he likes it.” O’aka said to them. “Well, if lady Yuna says that I should leave me shop and beware of this guy, I will. After all, ye’ve been good to me, that you have.”
“Thanks O’aka. Be near the Highbridge at the entrance to Bevelle in about a day or so and you’ll have a few customers.” Tidus said as they took flight again towards the lake.
“You got yourselves a deal, that you do.”
Passing over the Travel Agency next to the lake about three hours later, everyone but Auron, Tidus, and Yuna dropped down to warn its inhabitants as they continued past the lake to the temple in about a half an hour. Auron stayed at the entrance to the Trials to stand guard if any intrusion were to be made and warn the priests about their Lord Seymour’s coming. Tidus and Yuna continued down past the room where they fought Seymour and his aeon for the first time and on to the curved ice ramp to where Shiva was waiting for them.
Tidus performed the blitzball sign or the Priests’ prayer to Yevon and the Fayth appeared. “It is time for you to begin the hardest journey you have had yet. Only you and your compatriots can defeat Seymour now that he controls the Key of Maorix. If you fail the world will fall.” She said as she leapt into him.
Exiting the Chamber of the Fayth, they just flew up to the temple entrance from where they were to skip the Trials. Everyone who was there when they had arrived had fled to the Airship docks above the lake and took off towards the southern part of Spira. Auron just nodded and they took flight back to the Travel Agency.
Meanwhile, Seymour had finished about three fourths of his journey to the world of the living and was drawing ever closer.
The undead Guado being touched down at the lookout point in the Farplane. There was no one there to disturb his landing or warn the other underling Guado of the impending danger that drew ever closer to them. Ever since the attack on Guadosalam about four days ago, the Guado were too scared to even mention the place. This situation can be used to my advantage, he thought to himself as he pushed through the barrier and withdrew his wings.
He began walking through the passageway that connected the Farplane and Guadosalam, all the while chanting. “Surgite! Inventite! Veni hortum veritatis! Horti verna veritatis!”
As he chanted on, the ground underneath became alive as fiends began coming up from it. The spell he was chanting was one of the most powerful summons possible. The fiends that came grew together to make one massive beast that looked like a giant Chimera.
“Welcome, my servant Hecate. You are to destroy this city completely. Leave no building unscathed. Afterwards return to the ground from whence you came.” Seymour said as he took flight again down through the gateway to the Thunder Plains.
As he flew onwards towards Macalania, Hecate began laying waste to the city of Guadosalam. First the Mansion and the other houses, then the Item Shop, and finally the Inn; all destroyed by Hecate. Since all of the Guado were still staying in the Inn when Hecate began his assault, they escaped through the forest to the northern dock at the Moonflow.
Finishing his work, Hecate became sand and flowed back into the ground. Meanwhile, the group was drawing ever closer to the Highbridge in Bevelle.
***
“So, you sure that you should only journey until you gain Bahamut?” Rikku asked him as they touched down outside of the massive machina city of Bevelle.
“That’s what Jecht and Braska said the fayth told them. That’s all I have to go off of right now so it’s what I’m doing.” Tidus replied.
“I think we can trust the fayth’s judgment on this matter. After all, he was the one who awakened the first part of our minds and gave us the wings, you know.” Yuna said.
“Ya man. I think Yuna’s right. But still be on your guard, bruddas. He also warned us that Seymour is still coming, ya’ know. We ought to look out for any sign of danger until Tidus has Bahamut, at least.”
They walked on through the gates at the Highbridge after stocking up on items from O’aka like they had promised him they would. Shelinda met them outside because it was guarded since the news about Seymour had spread. “Maester Hiroc has been awaiting your arrival, Mr. Tidus. He has also been expecting the rest of you as well, Lady Yuna. Please follow me.” She said as she began leading them through the endless maze of passageways and streets in Bevelle.
The city sure had changed since the last time Tidus had seen it when Mika finally decided to go to the Farplane. It was no longer just slightly mechanical as it was earlier. It was now a fully operation metropolis sprawling in all directions. It was the largest city in Spira with the newly rebuilt Zanarkand being second.
“I need to know before Lord Hiroc announces the truth, Lady Yuna. Is the deceased Maester Seymour actually living again?” Shelinda asked as they passed over the airship docks and boat harbor built along the sea.
“I am afraid so. He is no longer what you would call living, though. He was brought back to life by the pyreflies after we destroyed him back at the Farplane. He will stop at nothing to be able to rule this world and the next. We know that he is coming after us first, however.” Yuna replied.
“Then you must stay here at the temple and let the guards protect you! Surely you are not thinking of fighting Lord Seymour are you?” She asked.
“You know it. As soon as Yuna and I go pray in the Chamber of the Fayth, all of us are flying out again.” Tidus answered.
“But he will surely kill you!” Shelinda nearly cried.
“Don’t worry about us, we can handle ourselves in a battle. Especially after I obtain Bahamut.”
“How will you kill what is already dead with just your swords and magic? It is impossible.”
“Nothing’s impossible if you set your mind to it.” Rikku replied as she and everyone else grew out their wings and took off into the air about twenty feet above Shelinda.
“Incredible! I had heard the reports from the priests at Macalania and Djose but to see it with your own eyes is amazing!” Shelinda replied as they landed again, right outside the door to Hiroc’s quarters.
“Nothing to worry about. I’ll concentrate right now and pass along these abilities to you.” Tidus said as he began thinking. Shelinda soon grew wings and then withdrew them.
“How is this possible, though?” Shelinda asked them.
“The Fayth gave us the power to create and destroy anything as we like. While Tidus and I are going to the Chamber of Fayth to pray, I would like you to assist Sir Auron, my father, and Sir Jecht in giving this power to all the warrior monks in Bevelle. After you do, we need you to gather them into a massive army in the Calm Lands, okay?”
“Anything for you, Lady Yuna and your companions. May I ask why you wish for them to be there?”
“We intend to draw Seymour away from the city and to the open areas of the Calm Lands. There, we will destroy him and the fiends of Spira once and for all.” Auron replied.
They stepped up to the doorway to Hiroc’s quarters and were greeted by a man of island descent with a dark complexion and a ponytail. He looked like Auron did thirteen years ago but with dark skin. He was not at all what one would have thought to be a monk or even their maester. But then again, no one thought that the last Guado maester, Seymour, would be a murdering sociopath that wanted to destroy the world, Tidus thought as Hiroc shook his hand and the hands of everyone else, especially Jecht, Auron, and Braska because to him they were legends.
“So, before you people get back on the pilgrimage
and head towards the temple, I need to ask you if the news about Seymour’s revival
and coming is true.” Hiroc asked as he led them into the main room of his quarters.
“Yes. I’m sorry to say this but Seymour has resurrected again and is
heading towards Bevelle by flight. He is going to destroy everything and everyone
in his path until he reaches us.” Braska said. “Already he has destroyed Guadosalam
and the Travel Agency in the Thunder Plains.”
“My god, we are all doomed unless you all can stop him.”
“That is why our visit must be short. Tidus and my daughter must leave quickly and go receive Bahamut from the Fayth at this temple. We have already begun preparing the warrior monks in Bevelle with our abilities and sending them to the Calm Lands. We intend to draw Seymour there and then defeat him in sheer strength and magic.”
“Yes, of course. You may leave now.” He said, opening the door for them.
“Thank you, maester Hiroc. I hope one day I will be able to talk to you on a more personal basis.” Braska said as he and every one else walked out.
“The pleasure is all mine, Lord Braska.”
***
As soon as they had all left and the door was closed again, Hiroc began projecting his thoughts towards Seymour.
My lord, the people that you intend to kill have just left my residence. The boy and maester Yuna are going to the Chamber of the Fayth as we speak while their compatriots are helping the priestess give their abilities to all of the warrior monks. Little do they or the priestess know that they have just given you an army fit for your grace. They are massing the troops in the Calm Lands. I will be there and command them for you, your lordship, he thought to Seymour.
Very good my servant. When I arrive in Bevelle in a little over a day, have every last troop prepared. I will continue this charade and follow those annoying pests until the Calm Lands. There I will eradicate them once and for all. You will be greatly rewarded once you join me after they are dead, Hiroc, Seymour thought to him.
Thank you your grace. I will await your arrival and prepare my self for my death and rebirth.
Good, then you shall be granted eternal sleep and be my second in command for all eternity.
You are too kind your grace, Hiroc thought right before he broke the connection to Seymour and began to ready himself.
***
Tidus and Yuna finally stepped off of the moving platform that led them to the Chamber after finishing the trials. Walking side by side they stepped forward to the entrance to the Chamber as the stone guard slid upwards and the feather like veils moved away from their path.
Torches along the walls surrounding the circular statue where the fayth resided suddenly lit as they entered the main room. The room itself seemed as though it was singing as the Hymn of the Fayth slowly rose into volume until the sound volume was that of a loud chorus in unison, although there was only one voice singing.
The fayth that Tidus had met over three years ago in his Zanarkand rose out of his eternal resting place. “Welcome Tidus, I have been expecting you for some time now. Before you may accept Bahamut, I must ask you if you feel you are ready.”
“Yeah, I’m ready. It’s not like I have a choice anyway because you told Braska to tell us that we could only defeat that slime Seymour after I acquired Bahamut. Well let’s just get this over with so that we can prepare for the battle in front of us.” Tidus replied looking to Yuna and then back to the fayth.
“Before you do, I must warn you that the last step in the awakening of the true limits of your abilities will be anything but easy. The process of their awakening will be a painful one. After I have joined with you I will start to bring them to life but it will take time and patience.”
“Just as long as you’re done before Seymour gets here.”
“I am not sure I will be. It is all up to how your mind reacts to my intrusion. If it welcomes me then it may only take minutes, but if it does not then it could take up to a day at most.”
“Oh great. Thanks for waiting to tell me this until the last moment.” Tidus replied sarcastically.
“Since I am unsure about the length of time this will take, we fayth have created weapons for you and your friends that are born of our minds.” He said. Nine weapons appeared in front of Tidus and Yuna, each unlike any they had ever seen. “They utilize the abilities you have such as the ability to destroy or create with your mind. Whatever you do with your mind while using these weapons will be amplified and then done by the weapons. Such as, if you concentrated to destroy the fiends around you and the pyreflies they are made of, you would concentrate while you strike one of the fiends. The power flows through the weapons and to the ones you wish to destroy or heal. The weapons will help you to do what you concentrate on.”
“So the weapons amplify our power then act as a conductor to the intended target. So if I wanted to destroy all of the fiends, I will only have to attack one while concentrating, correct?” Yuna asked.
“No. Not until the limits of Tidus’ and your abilities are reached will you be able to do so. They can only go as far as you can in your minds right now. Once your minds break their boundaries by utilizing their full potential, anything and everything will be possible simply by thought.”
The first weapon was a double-edged blade made of two swords somewhat similar to Tidus’ Caladbolg that were joined at their hilts. The sword blades were facing opposite directions and were dark blue like Bahamut’s scales. At the beginning of the blades was the symbol from Tidus’ old blitzball team, the Zanarkand Abes. Inscribed above each symbol were the words Laevatein X. The next weapon was a rod about four feet long that looked like Yuna’s Nirvana weapon but it was more ornate and was white as snow. The weapon’s handle seemed as though it held part of the ocean in it. The handle was the same design and color of Chappu’s sword, Brotherhood. On it was inscribed the words White Phoenix.
The fayth reached down and grabbed both of them and handed the Laevatein X to Tidus and the White Phoenix to Yuna. The next weapons were for Lulu and Wakka. Wakka’s new blitzball was like his World Champion except that there were two rows of blades that criss-crossed each other, making a cross in the middle of the ball. It was a deep shade of green and was called the Ultimate Champion. Next was Lulu’s weapon was a doll dressed in a dress of the same design and type she used to wear back during the first pilgrimage named the Mage of The Ancients. Then there was a new spear for Kimahri. It was as though someone had taken the Spirit Lance and put another blade on the other half of the handle. The blades themselves were black with the tipping being the color of Spheres. It was named Angel Lance.
Then there was Auron’s weapon. It was the fayth had made another Masamune and combined it with the first so that the sword blades formed a perfect cross. The handle was longer by about six inches but was the same color. Along the handle engraved in ornate, golden letters was the word Gatekeeper. Rikku’s fayth-borne weapon was like the Godhand except it was now dark orange and the spikes along the main claws were extended to a length of one foot. On the black arm covering were two words, Hades Claw. However, there were two Hades Claws, one for each arm.
Finally there were two last weapons. One was Jecht’s new blade. The weapon itself consisted of two gloves, each with a three-foot blade on the side of each. At the part where the blades reached the gloves was a half-handle that was about ten inches long. It seemed that when you flipped the blades outward in front of you they could come lose and form a sword much like Tidus’ Caladbolg. The gloves were black and the blades were blood red. On the each of the blades were the words Dragon’s Wings. Last was Braska’s new rod. It was also like the Nirvana except the handle looked as though it were made of gold and the actual weapon part was colorless and clear but looked as though lightning was transferring back and forth through it. In the gold handle were inscribed the words Storm Holder.
The fayth then smiled and flew into Tidus’ body to give him control over Bahamut. Tidus and Yuna gathered the rest of the weapons and left the temple to find that everyone else was waiting for them. They handed the weapons one by one to their respectable owners and then spread their wings.
“We’ll wait here until Seymour arrives. Until then we must be on full alert for any sign of him. Once one of us sees him, we fly away and get him to follow us to the Calm Lands where all the newly empowered warrior monks are waiting in ambush, okay?” Tidus asked all of them.
“Got it, brudda. I just wanna say to all of ya that if any of us dies, it’s been nice knowin’ ya.” Wakka said.
“Kimahri agree. If Kimahri dies, Kimahri will see all of you again at the Farplane.” Kimahri replied.
“Don’t talk like that, you guys. We have to just believe that we’ll make it out of the fight alive. That’s all we can do, you know.” Rikku said.
“Yes, I agree. If we fight with all we have, we will not lose.” Lulu said.
They all nodded and then took off in different directions. Tidus and Yuna flew to a high rooftop together to watch the sun slowly dip over the horizon. Wakka and Lulu walked back to the Inn while Kimahri took up a post near the Highbridge as he had over three years ago during their escape from Bevelle. Rikku flew off to the airship docks where her father was. Auron, Jecht, and Braska were the last to leave as they headed off towards the temple.
Man, it’s like the last battle with Yu Yevon all over again. I just pray I won’t disappear after this one again, too; Tidus thought to himself as Yuna rested her head on his shoulder. Before they had left the temple, Shelinda had told them that Seymour would arrive in about five hours. Five hours until the war begins. Well then the countdown begins, I guess.
Tidus awoke slowly at about two in the morning. Realizing what the time was, he figured that Seymour would arrive in Bevelle in thirty minutes. Tidus began walking through the Inn to wake up anyone who was still sleeping; particularly Rikku, Wakka, and Lulu.
He found Yuna sitting in a chair in the main room of the Inn with Auron standing near the Save Sphere speaking to Jecht and Braska. Kimahri was still near the Highbridge. The tension due to waiting was so palpable it could be cut with a knife.
Yuna walked outside with him as he stepped out and spread his wings. In the back of his mind something slowly whispered to him, a voice belonging to the fayth he had last accepted. The awakening process is coming along well and should be done within the hour. It said to him.
Well that’s great, especially since Seymour will be here in about twenty minutes. He replied in thought. In the darkness surrounding the city was the being Tidus would have to destroy one last time before the end of his story. Clutching his fayth-borne weapon, the Laevatein X, tightly in his hands he released the locking mechanism and held each sword in one hand. He had already figured out what was probably the best way to utilize the sword’s abilities.
Their first target before Seymour would be all of the fiends and then Seymour himself. We just have to hold him for about forty minutes and then everything will be in place. Tidus thought. Behind him, everyone else was walking outside of the Inn and also spreading their wings. They all flew to where Kimahri was to await Seymour’s arrival.
The horizon started slowly glowing a blood red when he came into view. They all rose into the air to his height and drew their weapons. With speed great enough to match theirs he came upon them and began trying to attack them. So it begins. Tidus thought as they began dodging back and forth through the open sky above the Highbridge.
Slowly but surely they began to draw him away from the city. Past their old camping spot, over the pond where Tidus and Yuna had their first kiss, through the narrow gap leading to the cliff and finally they were in the open area above the Calm Lands.
As they did, hundreds of winged warrior monks started descending from their waiting area nearly a mile above to ground. By then everyone was in the center of the Calm Lands.
“Okay guys, start destroying the fiends! We’ll take care of Seymour!” Tidus yelled.
The monks started taking aim at the various fiends running around and picking them off one by one with their rifles. Tidus and the others began circling on the ground, each with their weapons drawn. Seymour began chanting something, however.
“Surgite! Inventite! Veni hortum veritatis! Horti verna veritatis!” He yelled into the sky above him. “Come to me, Hecate!”
The ground around them started shaking as Hecate slowly gathered its body together and rose out of the dirt. Auron, Jecht, and Braska all started attacking it with their various weapons. Jecht flew high into the air and threw the blades on his arms outward to form the real Dragon’s Wings sword and dove back towards it. Flying by and slashing the monster with quick strikes, he succeeded in distracting it for a main attack by Auron and Braska. Auron leapt and flew thirty feet into the air then thrust the blade down towards the ground at Hecate’s right arm as though he was doing his first Bushido overdrive move, Dragon Fang, but through the enemy and not the ground.
The attack cut of Hecate’s arm but as it fell it became dirt again and rejoined his body, reforming his arm.
“Hey Auron, I don’t know about you but I think this might be a problem.” Jecht hollered as he continued to try to slash through Hecate.
“I have an idea. Lord Braska, try an ice based spell on it.” Auron replied.
“Okay, stand back.” Braska answered. He