They stepped outside the caves, the golden glow of sunset fell upon them, not the harsh, midday sun that Buffy had initially expected. They were on a cliff, high in the air, wisps of cloud, the colour of blood hung in the sky.
Rikku ran out
of the cave, turning to the others. “Hey! Can’t we rest a little.”
Buffy knew the Al Behd girl wasn’t tired, didn’t need to rest. She was holding
on to the shred of hope that she may think of a way to help Yuna.
“No need.” Auron stepped forward. “We reach the summit soon.”
“I know, that’s why I want to stop for a bit.” She turned around, kneeling down on the ground. “Soon means that.. there’s not much time left.”
“Rikku..” Yuna stepped forward.
“Fine, I’ll think on the way.” She stood up.
They walked further along and they got their first look at the place they had travelled all this way to get to. The end of the road. It was surprisingly beautiful. The buildings were crumbling and bleached white by the sun. A heavy mist sat on the ground, making the buildings look as if they were sitting on some sort of cloud, stained the colour of roses in the evening light. Pyreflies floated around he buildings, dancing through the air and a lone gull glided out across the sea, into the horizon.
Rikku broke the silence. “Yuna, I say no. if we go down there then you’ll…”
Yuna turned to her. “Rikku you are a true friend and I thank you but I must go.. down... to Zanarkand.”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t go but.. can’t we think about it some more. There’s got to be some way we can save you.”
“My whole life I’ve thought about this moment.” Yuna said.
“Yunie…” There were tears in Rikku’s voice. Yuna suddenly ran forward, hugging Rikku. Something shining and blue falling from her the things around her arms.
“Thank you, Rikku. Thank you for everything.”
Buffy reached forward, picking the sphere up off the ground and looking it over, she slid it into the pocket of her jacket.
“Don’t say that, Yunie, it’s not over yet.”
“Tell Cid, thankyou.” Yuna told her cousin.
“No..” Rikku answered. “You can tell him yourself.”
“Please…” Yuna said pleadingly.
“Yuna, don’t say that because.. we’re gonna see each other again. Okay?”
“Kimahri, let’s go.” Yuna said, disentangling herself from Rikku’s arms.
Tidus walked over to Buffy. “Wha.. what is that?”
“Dunno, Yuna dropped it.”
“It’s a sphere.” Spike answered. “Like the one..” He stopped short. “Have you found any of these, Tidus?”
“A couple, my old man was in them. It’s like, even when he’s gone he can’t leave me alone.”
“Wow, you really don’t get on with your dad?” Buffy commented.
“Yeah, I guess. There should be a little button on it.”
Buffy pulled the sphere out of her pocket, she found the button and pressed it.
It was as though they were suddenly I another place, like when Seymour had shown them Yunalesca. The sea could be heard very strongly in the background. Yuna’s voice cold be heard.
“Sir Auron. Kimahri told me… when my father wanted me taken from Bevelle to Besaid.. It was you who told Kimahri, right?”
the scenery was clearer now, an inn could be seen, Lulu standing before it, arms crossed, a chocobo stood behind the fence.
“I had always wanted to meet you, someday.” Yuna’s voice continued as the inn door opened and Wakka walked out.
“I am truly glad that I had that chance. Having you as a guardian was so great an honour, I don’t know how to thank you. Perhaps, if I defeat Sin, that will be my thanks to you… That’s what I’ll do. I will challenge Sin, I will defeat Sin, If you are all there watching this, then I guess Sin is already gone. And so am I, I suppose.”
Lulu turned and walked back into the inn, Buffy got the feeling she couldn’t hear Yuna.
“Anyway, I just wanted to say; Sir Auron, I thank you.”
The door closed behind Lulu as Yuna spoke.
“Kimahri… Do
you remember the first day we met? I was only seven. My father had defeated Sin
and all Bevelle was celebrating. Everyone was saying what a hero my father was.
I was so happy.”
As Buffy watched Wakka ran off, to near where the chocobo stood, sitting down on
the ground and staring off across the wide plain of grass. It wasn’t the Calm
Lands, Buffy knew she hadn’t seen this place.
“But when
night came, it occurred to me. My father had defeated Sin and now he was dead.
Now I was all alone. I couldn’t sleep so I wandered into the town, away from the
celebrating crowds. I stood on the bridge in Bevelle where my father and I had
parted. Standing there, alone, I could see the fields where he had fought Sin.
Then you appeared Kimahri.”
As Yuna said this Kimahri himself walked into view, his usual long strides
taking him behind the inn and out of sight.
“You said you were looking for the daughter of Braska, remember? At first I was so scared. Until I realised what a gentle person you are.” The sound of her laughter could be heard in the background. “you weren’t used to talking to children. When I told you that I was Braska’s daughter… you said you would take me as far from Bevelle as you could. That it was the wish of a man facing death. I think… I cried then. Because that was when I knew my father was dead… and I would never see him again. You just held me, without saying a word. I cried after we got to Besaid, too. When you tried to go after leaving me in the care of the temple… I held onto you crying ‘don’t go, don’t go!’ And you listened, Kimahri, you stayed. Kimahri thankyou, thankyou so much. And I’ve always liked your broken horn.”
Buffy smiled, she liked Kimahri’s broken horn too, it suited him. The scenery changed, pulling away, floating into the air, overlooking the inn, the sun shining brightly just above the horizon, hanging over some ruins, standing in the sea.
“Wakka, Lulu: I’ll never forget my days spent with you, growing up in Besaid. We always played together, us and Chappu.”
Buffy frowned, Chappu?
“Chappu was Wakka’s brother.” Spike explained quietly as they stood, high above the inn and watched Auron walk over near to where Wakka still sat.
“That’s why I was always so happy, I think. And when you refused to let me become a Summoner and I did it anyway.. I’m sorry. I’ve always wanted to apologise. You know, when you tried to stop me then-really, I was happy. I could tell you really cared about me. You were like my big brother and sister. No.. I think you really were my big brother and sister. What else… I love watching you play blitzball, Wakka. I even love it when you scold me, Lulu! Really!”
The scene changed again and the sphere could be seen, held in Yuna’s hands.
“I guess that leaves the newest guardian, Tidus, you are.. I am… well, um- I’m glad… I ‘m glad that we met. We haven’t know each other long, but… It’s funny..”
The sphere showed Tidus walking out of the inn.
“So, this is what it feels like. It’s a much more wonderful feeling than anything I had ever imagined. Wonderful.. but it hurts, sometimes. I wonder. I.. I just want to say, thankyou for everything maybe, maybe that’s why it hurts when I think about us never being together again at all. I’m afraid, no I shouldn’t say that, I’ll do that part over. Um…”
“Watcha up to..” Tidus’ voice asked.
Yuna put the sphere back in her sleeve and everything faded away.
“Oh.” Buffy said.
“I.. we should catch up.” Tidus answered.
“We’re wasting time, let’s go.” Spike said in a feigned deep voice, Buffy laughed.
They reached the summit and began a swift descent. The path was steep and narrow, leading down into the mist. When they reached the bottom the others were waiting.
They ceremoniously placed their weapons into or onto the ground, setting up camp.
Everyone sat around the roaring fire, recounting all the happenings of their journey. Not just from when they left their island, Besaid. But before that. When they were growing up. When Wakka’s brother, Lulu’s boyfriend, Chappu went away to fight sin, taking with him the same sword that Tidus now carried. When Rikku was a girl and first learnt she had a cousin. For her it was like finding she had a sister.
“I always wanted to meet you, I thought.. how much fun we could have, you know..?”
They each spoke, it was as though words were to come between them and what they were about to do. Even Buffy talked, they learnt about Sunnydale, about Willow and Xander, her little sister, Dawn. The countless battles she’d fought against evil.
When Spike’s turn came to speak he firmly shook his head.
“I’m not really the soul-revealing type, love.” He’d told Buffy. Buffy ‘persuaded’ him that he was now, so eventually Spike spoke too. He spoke of his mother, his time growing up, studying, falling in love, of words beginning to form in him as the poet was created. He felt foolish talking about this stuff to these people. He was different now anyway, that was decades ago, or was it.. He looked at Buffy and the words flowed through him as strong as ever and he knew that he hadn’t changed. Love would always guide him, rule him, he remembered a speech he’d given to Buffy, years ago. ‘Love isn’t brains, children, it’s blood, blood screaming inside you to work its’ will, I may be love’s bitch, but at least I’m man enough to admit it.’
The sun slowly went down and their stories were all out, each had said all they could and a silence fell upon the group.
Buffy looked around, at Wakka, the strange man with bad hair who Buffy had never taken the time to get to know but somehow she already knew him. She’d seen his heart, she knew his strengths and weaknesses, his joys and sorrows. She looked at Lulu, the black mage who she almost looked up to as much she did her watcher. She looked at Rikku, the little girl who struggled so hard to hold her world together, the Al Behd, their Home and her cousin Yuna, she tried so hard to make everything work out. Kimahri sat there, his silence showing his emotions more than his blue furred, lionlike face. He gave off an aura of gentleness and protection that made Buffy feel that if she was ever sad or lonely she could run to him and he would make it all better. In a strange way he reminded her of her mother. Auron.. Auron annoyed her, he almost reminded her of a father figure, trying to control her, at her age that was just annoying. But in a way, if he left, she’d really miss him, she enjoyed how much he annoyed her.
Tidus.. he was irritating too, but in a different way, like a cross between Dawn and Xander at their most annoying! He was also confident, persistent and very much in love with Yuna. All these things made him good in Buffy’s eyes.
She looked at the Summoner , sitting there by the fire as the sun melted and the stars blinked to life overhead, knowing that this was probably the last night she would ever see. Buffy felt a link with Yuna, they were kindred spirits, chosen ones, and they would do anything to stop evil.
Lastly Buffy looked at Spike, her gaze remained there for a long time, she knew she could stay there forever. His white blonde hair curled messily over his head. His shining blue eyes took in everything and told her so much.
Tidus tried to start a conversation up again. “What about that time.. we, uh.. anybody?”
Yuna stood up. “That is enough.. I think, for now.” She walked over to where the weapons were, pulling her staff out of the ground. Everyone else stood up, silence screaming through the empty place, they then stepped back onto the broken road.
“Oh!” Rikku said as they came around a building and had a clear view of their destination. Far off in the distance stood a great stadium of some kind, crumbled like everything else in this place. But above the stadium, in fact throughout Zanarkand, were pyreflies. The closer they came to the stadium the more pyrelies there were.
“It looks like the Farplane, ya?” Wakka said.
“Close.” Auron answered.
When they reached the stadium someone was waiting for them.
“Hello, Summoner , welcome to Zanrakand.” He said. “Your eyes, child, let me see the journey you have taken.”
He looked into Yuna’s eyes, clearing his throat. “Very good, I will go inform Lady Yunalesca of your arrival.” With that he disappeared into a pillar of pyreflies.
The inside of the stadium was dangerous, if the fiends didn’t get you the crumbling floor would.
As they walked along they heard a noise behind them, they turned, startled, a young woman stood behind them.
“Lady Yocun, I would gladly give my life for Spira, it is the highest honour for any guardian.”
“Wha.. what’s that!” Wakka asked.
“This dome, filled with pyreflies acts as a giant sphere. The memories of the dead are trapped here.” Auron explained.
The woman faded, replaced by a child of about six. He had blue hair, sticking up awfully in places and he was crying.
“Mommy, I
don’t want you to become a Fayth.”
”It’s the only choice, my dear. Use me to defeat Sin, only then will the people
of Spira accept you.”
“I don’t care, I only need you, Mommy.” He sobbed, fading away.
“Was that..” Wakka began.
“Seymour.” Lulu answered.
They delicately made their way to the chamber of the Fayth.
“Yuna, we’re here.” Lulu said.
“Yes.” Yuna stood on a platform in the centre of the wide room, the symbol of Yevon shone brightly on it and it began to descend.
A moment later Yuna came back up. “Everybody, quick!”
They took the platform down into the chamber.
“This isn’t a Fayth, it’s just an empty statue.” Yuna said.
As she spoke the dead man appeared behind her, walking through a shimmering blue doorway in what had been the wall.
“That statue lost its’ power as a Fayth long ago. It is Lord Zaon, the first Fayth of the final summoning. What you see before you is all that remains of him. Lord Zaon is.. his soul is gone.”
“Gone!?” Wakka ran over to him.
“You mean, there is no Final Aeon?” Rikku asked.
“But fear not.” The man said. “Lady Yunalesca will show you the path. The Final Aeon will be yours”
Buffy had super wiggy feelings about this whole thing.
“The summoner and the Final Aeon will join powers. Go to her now. Inside the Lady awaits.”
Yuna turned to walk through door. “Yuna, wait!” Tidus called.
Auron stepped forward.
“Auron, you knew this was going to happen, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” Auron answered.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Rikku asked.
“If I had told you the truth, would that really have stopped you from coming?” Auron asked.
“Yuna?” Kimahri said.
“I’m not going back.” Yuna said.
“Kimahri knows.” He answered.
Buffy stepped
forward. “Yuna..”
Yuna turned around.
“Hey, I’m not trying to be all soap opera’y here, but I’ll come with you. None of us want you to go, but I understand, why you have to. I accept that you have to do this. But I’m coming with you.”
Yuna’s eyes sparkled with tears. “Buffy.. I, I never got the chance to thank you.. and.. I’m sorry, thankyou. And thankyou too, Sir Spike. I.. I’m happy that Cid had you come.”
Kimahri stepped forward. “Kimahri go first. Yuna is safe, Kimahri protect.”
Kimahri then Yuna walked through. Buffy and Spike followed, Auron, Rikku and the others followed them.