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Return

One of the traditions the Final Fantasy series has is that each installment is independant of one another. The plotline, the characters, the world -- they're all different in each Final Fantasy, while things such as summons, spell names, usage of 'crystals' carried over in each installment. However, Final Fantasy X broke this tradition with its sequel, Final Fantasy X-2. This was a true sequel, with returning characters, the same world, etc. In the sequel, Yuna returns as the protagonist who is now a sphere hunter, who also searches for clues about Tidus' whereabouts in her spare time.

Even though in FFX, we discovered that Tidus was not a real person, Yuna's efforts were not in vain -- Tidus makes a return!

Though Final Fantasy X-2 claimed to have multiple endings, it was really one big ending, and depending on how much of the game you manage to complete, that's how much of the ending you get to see. If you manage to get a high enough completion score, you will be able to watch the entire ending, including Tidus' return. If you don't, well, then you only get to see parts of the ending, which omit Tidus' return, making it seem like Yuna never found him.

the ending

In the "perfect ending", Nooj, Baralai and Gippal give a speech to the people of Spira (or rather, the people of Spira who showed up to the stadium), and announce that their high summoner Yuna is retiring from sphere-hunting (at the age of nineteen!) and going back to her hometown. After saving the world twice now, uncovering all of Yevon's dirty secrets and solving all the mysteries of the past, it's no wonder Yuna felt a little tired. Just a little.

As Yuna flies home in her airship, Tidus "awakes" from beneath the waters by Besaid Island. He's confused as to what is going on, but seems to enjoy the familiar scenery. After realizing he's on Besaid Island, he whistles the special whistle he taught Yuna a long time ago, wondering if he'll see her. I doubt he really expected Yuna to show up after he whistled, but lo and behold ...

As if on cue, the Celsius airship shows up in the skies and makes a swift landing on the beach. Yuna jumps out even before the airship has properly landed and rushes to Tidus, holding him tightly. Tidus feels as if this is all surreal -- after all, the last thing he remembered was jumping off the airship to 'die'. He looks confused and asks Yuna, "Am I ... real?"

Yuna nods happily. If he is there in front of her, then he must be real. The happy couple race each towards the beach where other old friends such as Wakka and Lulu await, as well as the rest of the villagers. It's a happy ending indeed, and the two probably live the rest of their life on Besaid Island blissfully.

Secret ending

If, by chance, you manage to obtain a completely perfect score in Final Fantasy X-2, not only do you get to view the "perfect ending", but you also get to view the "secret ending" as well (which is in continuation of the ending described above). In the secret ending, Tidus has traveled back to the Ruins of Zanarkand where he stands atop a random ledge and overlooks the entire destroyed city. He's either having a hard time registering the facts into his brain, or he could simply be reminiscing. It's hard for him to digest the fact that his entire life had been a dream, and that his childhood, blitzball, his family, perhaps even his feelings, were all non-existant, and only part of a large dream of somebody else.

Tidus states to Yuna that he might not be real, that it may be a mistake that he's back in the real world and that someday he might disappear again. But perhaps, just maybe, if they show the Fayth how much they cherish one another, the Fayth will continue dreaming about Tidus and won't let him disappear.

This is the part where Yuna decides to shove him off the ledge.

"That's not cherishing!" Tidus calls out to Yuna from under the ledge. Yuna smiles and replies, "You didn't disappear." Yuna has faith and is positive that he has come back for good -- not as a dream, but as a real person. I do believe this final scene in FFX-2 is to show that Tidus is truly back and that he and Yuna are able to live happily ever after.

The reason for Tidus' return is a debated topic that has spat out theory after theory. There's no real evidence given as to why Tidus miraculously reappeared. The most common theory is that since Tidus was the hero who destroyed Sin for good, and Yuna was the heroine who stopped Shuyin from activating Vegnagun to blow up Spira, the Fayth decided to grant both of their wishes and allowed Tidus to make his return. They both saved the world after all. Personally, I still think Tidus is a dream image; he can't just suddenly return as a real person, but I believe he is here to stay permanently. Why can't he live on as a dream?