Chapter Text
"We need the real Oracle of Light - we need the real Minfilia."
Stubborn peaked up at what the vessel said - finally something worthwhile in this whole dreary conversation! Without letting anyone else say another word she strode to the vessel, barely able to contain the happiness starting to well up in a heart she thought long dead and gone.
"That is your choice? Are you completely sure?" Yucca asked, completely towering over the girl.
"Yes."
YES. The girl said yes!
Finally the smile broke through, painting Yucca in a radiance unseen since that dreadful banquet - she spun the girl around as if dancing and laughed, surprised that she even remembered how to.
"Then let us be off! We wasted enough time as is, so if we make haste we can spare the people of the First from more suffering and death!" Yucca held the girl's hand almost gingerly, but she would not let go of it, lest she change her mind. "We shall bring back my Minfilia, slay the last Lightwardens, and at last return home together!"
Stunned silence was all that followed the pair as they strode out, Stubborn leading the way and the girl following one step behind. Tears of joy were mixing with the rain, rolling down cheeks that soon shall hurt from smiling. Yucca called for Fenrir, her loyal hound, and buried her hands in her mane, ruffling soft fur and gently cooing.
“Fenrir, we’re going to finally rescue Minfilia!” Yucca excitedly said into the beast’s mane, words that were answered with a joyful howl that echoed throughout the Crystal Tower. Yucca laughed and Fenrir howled even louder, circling her master excitedly – until she noticed the vessel standing a few strides away from them. Fenrir lowered her head and looked at her with suspicious eyes, but since she felt no hostility from Yucca she went back to ignoring her.
“I know, I know, but we need her help to bring back Minfilia. Just this once, alright?” Fenrir huffed to show her displeasure, but once Fenrir settled down she lifted the girl and sat her upon its back, leading them to the Rookery.
“There are so many things that have happened since that day… She’ll be so happy to hear that we freed Doma and Ala Mhigo - the empire is still trying to claw back, but after I put them to the sword, Minfilia and I can go see Lyse!”
“Oh Lyse… She too lost hope that Minfilia could ever come home, just as everybody else did, but I held onto that tiny spark of hope. If I hadn’t…” Yucca’s expression grew grim, and the girl swore she saw the shadow of something dance across her lowered gaze for a split second - it made her shiver in abject fear before the smile returned to Yucca’s eyes.
“You see, girl, it was Minfilia who had given me home and hope and purpose - I was an adventurer, adrift, seeking only the next job to keep myself going, the next thrill to feel something, all until I ran into Yda and Papalymo. It was then that the Echo revealed itself to me, and I was introduced to her, a sight for sore eyes like a desert rose in a wasteland. We grew closer and closer, as Scions, as confidants, and then… as lovers.”
“Lovers… S-she meant that much to you?” the girl half-stuttered, half-asked, as if the revelation had been something unexpected.
“She is my everything. Without her, my life had lost its meaning.”
Yucca stopped and drew her lance.
“This,” she held it out towards the girl, “was all I was - a weapon.”
“I’m no fool, you see. Without the Echo on their side, without me, the Scions are powerless against the Primal and Ascian threat, and now the Lightwardens too. As much as I wanted to leave it all behind, I was powerless to do so, compelled by the oath I swore to my beloved Minfilia, the oath to keep Eorzea safe.”
“So I fought, and killed, and won, battle after battle after battle.”
“But now I can finally return to just being me.” With those words Yucca returned the lance to its holster and held out her hand instead. “And you can return to a world where you are spared all this endless suffering, and grief, and death.”
The girl did not dare hesitate to take Yucca’s hand, even as she quieted down the tremble of her fingers.
“I am so sorry that you had to go through all of this suffering, Stubborn.”
Yucca looked at her and smiled.
“It will all have been worth it, girl.”