Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Golden Silence ❯ Dark Warnings ( Chapter 10 )

Golden Silence

Lady Mars

Chapter X: Dark Warnings

Disclaimer: I don't own FFX.

* * *

Darkness rolls in as waves on the sea;

Fiends emerge from its waters endlessly

As the dark lord summons all of his might

Calling the summoner for one last fight

To determine whose hands

The people will be untied under across the lands.

* * *

Tidus stood among the frenzied islanders, not a part of the group, but not quite by himself. Something had thrown the entire island into a tizzy and he was there to find out what was going on. He scanned the crowd again, looking more intently for the small, red form of his aeon. The bird swooped down over the crowd and landed on Tidus' shoulder.

"Well?"

"I got nothing out of them," the bird replied. "They're all keyed up about something, but they're all talking at once, so it is nothing more than one huge mess."

"So we're better off staying here then?"

"Right, unless you have the desire to get trampled of course."

"Not today, I don't."

"Good, neither do I." The pair stood watching the pandemonium continue.

"Quite a spectacle, eh brodda?" Tidus turned to Wakka.

"That it is." Wakka stared at the bird on Tidus' should who was staring back at him.

"Interesting little critter you got there." Tidus smiled lightly.

"He is, isn't he?"

"Ya. And he looks kinda familiar." Tidus flinched. "Or it might be my imagination." Tidus relaxed a bit.

"So what's all the commotion about?"

"Half of them are in an uproar about the new influx of fiends." Tidus' mind reeled. 'A new fiend influx? That can't be good…' "And the other half is freaking about the blood washing up on shore." Tidus' eyes widened. 'Blood? That's REALLY can't be a good sign…' "It's like the apocalypse is coming or somethin'."

'He may be right there….'

'Don't remind me. I need to find a quick exit to investigate.'

'Good luck with Blitzer boy here.'

'I sure as hell need to try at least.'

"It's weird. It's like something out there is out to get us." 'No Wakka, out to get me.' "That's really unsettling after all these years of peace, ya know?" Tidus nodded; he was trying to keep up the illusion of paying attention while trying to come up with an escape route. "It makes me wonder what's causing this all…"

"Me too Wakka." He was getting really itchy to get out of there.

"Ya wanna go investigate?"

"What?"

"Ya wanna go try and find out what's going on?" Tidus stared at him, dumbfounded. "There's no point in us adding to the clutter around here, right?"

"Right…"

"Then let's go." Wakka started walking away.

'Aren't you going?' Tidus shook his head to clear it and ran to catch up with Wakka.

"What's with the sense of adventure all of a sudden?" Tidus asked, following the larger Blitzer.

"I don't know," Wakka replied. "I think it's more of a desire to do something than to sit on my hands doing nothing about it."

"I have to agree with you. It's so counterproductive to sit around and let it all get worse."

"Which, of course, makes my life harder."

"Why do you say that?"

"Yuna has taken to a pacifist regime. She's not into the kill it and get it out of the way. Well, she wasn't into it from the start, but it's just getting worse now a days." Tidus sighed; he agreed with the other man, Yuna had changed. "And I can't say anything because then she'll think I don't like her or how she runs things; it's getting too complicated for me."

"Then why don't you tell her how you feel?" The pair turned to see Rikku following them.

"How long have you been following us?" Wakka asked.

"Since 'What's with the sense of adventure all of a sudden?'" Tidus sighed.

"If you wanted to come along, you could have asked," Tidus mumbled.

"Sorry. I just wanted to get away from the crowds."

"I can understand, why do you think we left?"

"Good point. So what ARE we looking for?"

"The so called influx of fiends," Wakka replied.

"I'm a little more interested in the bleeding shoreline," Tidus replied.

"Eww…" Rikku didn't like the thought of a bloody shore line. "Do we have to SEE that?"

"I WANT to see it, you don't have to come along." Wakka snickered.

"Afraid of a little blood Rikku?" Wakka teased.

"No," Rikku snapped. "It's just creepy." Tidus chuckled.

"I know, I know. But we need to source everything so it can be eliminated."

"Right, right." The bird on Tidus' shoulder shifted nervously. "What's with the bird?"

"I don't know. He's usually pretty calm." 'What's the matter?'

'Something's different about these fiends. They're not heading into the forest; they're heading into the sea, even the ones who can't swim.'

'Go on ahead and see what's going on.'

'Got ya.'The bird took off from his shoulder and flew up and over the treetops, towards the sea. Tidus watched him until he swooped down beneath the tree line. He hoped that it wasn't what he thought it was.

The trio pressed on through the beaten paths of Besaid, all wondering what lay at the end of the road. No one expected what they found when they got to their destination.

The area reeked of death; the odor hung in the air like a thick blanket. The beach was littered with fiend carcasses. The white sand was tainted a deep crimson from the blood of the dead beasts. The worst aspect was the ocean; the water itself had become a pitch black shade. The three scanned the area with silent apprehension; something foul was going on here and they didn't know what to do.

"What a mess." The trio turned to see Izzaru, Yuna, Lulu, and Kihmarhi approaching.

"Who could do such a thing?" Yuna asked. No one answered, but a lingering thought kept bouncing around Tidus' head; he knew who it was, but wasn't willing to admit it. The small red bird flew back up to the group and settled down on Tidus' shoulder. 'Well?'

'It's bad, really bad. There are dead fiends everywhere. They're dying by the thousands. The whole sea is dark and the mists are rolling in.'

'The mists? As in THE mists?'

'Yes. This is bad Tidus, really bad. We need to do something, and fast.' Tidus quickly mulled over his options; he had no idea what to do. He was going to look for another escape when Rikku's shriek broke though the silent air. They all turned to her and then back to the ocean where she was pointing. Out of the dark water arose a fiend, but this fiends wasn't alive. The demon crawled out of the water, oozing blood and surrounded by a mysterious black mist. The bird dove from Tidus' shoulder and attacked the fiend. With a decisive crack of its neck, the demon died. The bird hovered over the carcass, awaiting the next on to arise; he didn't have to wait long. The next arose out of the dark sea and it died in a similar fashion as its brother. Over and over again these motions were repeated, that was until the fiends arose faster than the beast could kill them. 'You need to do it; I can't handle these on my own.' Tidus nodded; he hefted his sword skyward. 'I just hope the short cut works.'

"Aeon of the darkness, come to my call and enter the light!" The others exchanged glances, not sure of what the boy was doing until Yuna's frightened gasp echoed through the trees. The black dragon had latched onto the giant bird about to attack the high summoner and took of into the sky again. Tidus turned back to the hovering bird. The small creature was hovering just above the level in which the beasts could jump.

'The sooner you change me, the better.' Tidus nodded. He shifted his sword to face the bird.

"Beast of the light, take upon your true wings to take flight!" In a burst of white light, the bird exploded back into his full aeon form and back into his fiend killing. The group stood silently watching the beasts do their bidding until the beach was once again littered with fiend carcasses, but no more emerged from the turbulent waters.

"Bravo, my dear summoner, but that will not be enough to stop me." From the mist emerged a larger demon. His sea green skin glistened from the water. He stared down from scarred flesh and over green nose ridges with haunting red eyes. His four legs shifted in the water and his two arms gripped his orange staff with short black claws. The black mist seemed to radiate from the purple rings that caressed his wrists, forearms, and tail. The two long blue horns that hung from the back of his head locked the identity of the beast in Tidus' head. "I see that you weren't the only one cast out." His gaze wandered from to the two aeons hovering above the water. "It's quite a pity that this will all end soon."

"How dare you," Tidus growled. He took a few steps towards the demon, wading through the carnage that was scattered across the sands. "How dare you have the audacity to come here and think I will let this place, my home, fall that easily. You must have hit your head pretty hard when they threw you out." The demon hissed, bordering on pure anger. "If you want this island, this planet, you are going to have to get through me first."

"FINE!" In one clean swoop, the beast latched onto Tidus and threw him into the open sea. "Now that the brat is out of the way, I shall finish this quickly." The two aeons exchanged worried looks; they needed to save Tidus, but they needed to protect the island too.

'What do we do now?'

'We have to get him further out to sea; he's too dangerous here.'

'What about Tidus?'

'We pray that he isn't dead.' The bird folded his wings and shot off towards deeper water, the dragon in close range behind him.

"Oh no you don't!" The demon hit the waters with and outstanding crash, chasing after the fleeing aeons.

'Do you think we've got his attention?'

'Yes, but we have to keep our guard up or..' An energy blast rocketed from the murky water and the bird barely dodged the attack. The dragon watched for a moment too long and was hit with the second wave of attacks. He hit the water with a mighty crash, causing his partner to drag to a halt.

'Jecht!' The dragon resurfaced a moment later, soaked and spitting water. 'Thank Yevon you're ok. How bad is it?' The dragon spewed water with each mighty cough forced it from his lungs.

'No external damage, stings like a bitch though.' The demon rose from the depths again, a wicked grin across his face.

"Not so tough with out our summoner, are we? I can see you fading as we speak." The pair didn't need to see it, they all ready knew. Their power was waning as he spoke. Their only hope was no where to be seen; for all they knew, the boy was dead.

* * *

His body hit the surf with a mighty crash. The force of the landing threw his mind into unconsciousness as his body drifted into the depths of the ocean. As his oxygen ran out, the last signs of life flittered away from his body. When the boy opened his eyes, he was greeted by a blinding white light. He scanned the area, looking for something familiar.

"Sneaky little bastard, isn't he?" Tidus spun to see aeon Ifrit sitting across from him. "That sure was a dirty way to fight, but what else would you expect from him." The fire demon sighed. "Well enough of that, we need to get down to business here. You right now, along with the rest of the universe lie in limbo. Whatever path you choose to take is the one that will direct the path of destiny. You go that way," the aeon pointed to an area of light blue haze. "You, and your aeons die, the dirty little shit gets his way, and the world get conquered. You go that way," he pointed to a haze that resembled the sea water that had met his body when he was thrown. "You go back to where you came from, but in the way you were meant to go back. You know your deal with Braska; either way it gets fulfilled, but it is your choice about the kind of life will be lived." The boy mulled over his options; he could have his easy out, no fuss, no muss, no mess. But that way would leave his friends worse off than if he had taken the original out. The other way would lead him back to the fighting, the pain, but in that reality his friends had the chance of being happy, despite the ends of his means. He sighed and looked back up at the fire aeon. "Have you decided?" The boy nodded. "Are you sure this is what you want?" The boy nodded again. "Fine then, what fate shall it be?"

"Send me back, I'm not quite done yet."

"Good choice my boy." Tidus walked slowly towards the haze. "And do me one favor."

"Hmm?"

"Kick his scaly butt back to where he belongs." Tidus smiled and dove head long back into the cold abyss of the waters. 'Be strong young one, the fate of many rests on your shoulders.'

* * *

The cold water roused his senses out of the fog that clouded his mind. His blue eyes shot open. He could feel the water around him, but he wasn't struggling for air. This form was new, but familiar to him. He sighed, content with the goings on for once in his life. But his peace lasted briefly as he darted off for the demon that was his adversary. His long tail propelled him forward in silent strokes. The demon had no idea what was coming, he would never see it until it was too late. 'And once it is too late, I will triumph.' The beast tipped his wings and dove deeper into the murky depths. 'Now, now the game has become mine. Syton, the time has come for you to meet your maker.'

* * *

The two aeons were clinging to life. Between the loss of their summoner and the attacks of the demon, they were running out of energy very quickly.

'I guess this is it.'

'I guess.'

'It was fun while it lasted.'

'Yeah. I hate to see it end this way.'

'So do I, but there isn't much we can do about it.'

'I know. I just wish there was somethin we could do.' The dragon sighed, closing his eyes, awaiting his final sending, but it never came. He waited long moments for his body to return to the Farplane, but it never happened. His eyes flew open when the power flowed back into his body.

'What's going on? Shouldn't we be gone by now?'

'Yes, but for some reason the power is coming back to me. What is going on?'

'I don't know. There's something not right.. I can sense him, but I can't…' The dark aeon stopped.

'What?'

'That shadow… It has the same…'

'It can't be.'

'It is. It is him.' The pair watched the serpentine form dance around the legs of the demon. The demon had no idea what was going on. 'He has returned.'

* * *

TIDUS: EVIL! EVIL!
He's mad at me.

TIDUS: EVIL! EVIL! EVIL!

He doesn't like the sequel idea I came up with.

TIDUS: EVIL! EVIL!

But ya know what? I'm writing it anyway.

TIDUS: EVIL!