There's a snap, and the summoner can't help but cry out, one of her wrists surely broken with the somehow enhanced grip of her cousin. She winced, pulling away only at the same time that Ifrit comes to her aid, pushing her back with the force at the same time, and landing near her staff.

What had they done to her?! Wincing, still on the ground, she reached for her staff with her left hand, since the right refused to work and pulsated with each beat of her heart... She came back to the battle just in time to see dark crystals encase the aeon. The mighty beast cried out as the attack connected... but survived the impact. Huffing, beating the ground, Ifrit readied for another attack, as he dug his claws into the ground below, pulling upwards...

"No, stop!" Yuna cried, finally rising and clasping her right arm close, feeling heavy as she tried to draw in air... had the fall knocked the wind out of her? A dull ache started in her head, which she ignored, attributing it to the impact as well. "You can't, she's not... she's not the enemy!"

The aeon looked back over a furry shoulder, as though to make sure that the summoner was really stopping him. When Yuna met the aeon's eyes, she stood firm, a small nod confirming her decision... With that, Ifrit turned back towards Rikku's form once more, roaring again in warning... and slapping the ground with a great force, propelling himself up and away.

"Rikku..." there was a pleading in her tone, one that crept into her eyes as she cast Cura on herself, hopefully to shake off those residual feelings. "You're still in there, aren't you? Whatever they've done to you... you can fight it!"