The Spiral of Death I - The Looming Shadow

by Maechen

AU story. When Yuna decides to leave her sleepy, peaceful island home of Besaid to become a summoner to defeat Sin like her father before her, she is met with much apprehension and worry. Furthermore, she receives a visit from the mysterious Belgemine, who gives her some disturbing news. Can Yuna bare the burden of a sinister secret and a pilgrimage? Reviews greatly appreciated!

2. The looming shadow

Yuna remained silent for a moment. "What do you mean?" she said, worried by Belgemine's tone of voice.
Belgemine moved to the armchair next to Yuna. "The package, Yuna. Unwrap it."
Yuna picked up the small object, wrapped tightly in cloth and unwrapped it gingerly. It was a ring. By the looks of it, a very old ring. It was made of the most magnificent quality gold Yuna had ever seen and it was a wonder to behold. The more she looked at it, the more mesmerised she became. Yet at the same time Yuna could sense something amiss, she could not quite tell what it was, but it made her feel ill at ease. How long she had stared at it in her hand, she did not know. Belgemine had said nothing the whole time that Yuna had looked at it. Finally, Yuna tore her gaze from the object in her hand and looked up at Belgemine, who was gazing across at the fire again.
"A ring." said Yuna. "But why the secrecy?"
"Do you notice anything odd about it, Yuna?"
"Only that I've never seen jewellery as fine as this in my life, and as embarrassing as it is to say, it does not make me feel right at all."
Belgemine nodded. "And what of the emblem? Notice anything?"
Yuna fingered the ring, looking at it closely. She noticed the emblem, she had missed it before, as she had been too captivated by its beauty. "Why that's the symbol of Yevon!" exclaimed Yuna. "So then this must be a relic from the early days of the temple?" she said, looking inquiringly at Belgemine.
"Well yes - and no." said Belgemine. "It is not of Bevelle, but of Zanarkand."
Yuna gasped. "Zanarkand?" she said, in awe. "Then this ring must be over a thousand years old, perhaps even older!"
"Yes, you are correct. As you no doubt know, a thousand years ago, there was a great war between the two most powerful Kingdoms of the age, Bevelle and Zanarkand. Both were wondrous machina cities, the jewels of Spira. What you may not know is that Zanarkand was famed for its summoners, and it governed its Kingdom with learned scholars of diplomacy and magic. Bevelle ruled its lands with an iron fist. It had the largest and most terrifying machina armies that the world had ever known and threatened to lay ruin to Spira. Soon, the whole world knew that it was only a matter of time before war broke out and the world would be changed forever." Belgemine sighed, sadly.
"And then Sin came, didn't it?" Yuna said, slowly.
"And then Sin came. But that is jumping too far ahead. It is important that you know all of it." Belgemine looked down at the ring for the first time since it had been revealed, although she did it reluctantly, as if it was repulsive to her. "That symbol is associated with the temple of Yevon, but it predates the temple by many years. Centuries, in fact. That symbol is the family crest of Yevon."
There was a stunned silence. "The family crest of Yevon? But Belgemine, I don't understand. Yevon was a family?" asked Yuna.
"Yes.." said Belgemine, musingly. "Long ago, up until the time of the machina war, people had family names. It is a tradition that has long been lost to the tragedy of time. Centuries ago, high borne families were judged by their merits and their deeds. Families would earn reputation, and their name would carry great respect, or great disdain. All who were born into that family would be judged by it and be expected to live up to its reputation. Families such as this had crests, and motto's to emphasise their importance. Many low borne had family names too of course, but that is of little relevance right now."
"Yuna, did you ever come across the name Yu Yevon in your studies?"
"Yes, but only briefly. It was his teachings that Spira adopted and founded the temples based on them, right?" said Yuna, uncertainly. She had a horrible feeling that there was much that Yevon had not told her, and it worried her.
Belgemine took a long puff of her pipe before speaking again.
"You are correct. However, there a few in this world who truly know who Yu Yevon was, and fewer still who would be willing to tell you."
"Whilst Zanarkand had its own machina army, it was nowhere near enough to rival Bevelle. It was the summoners that the people of Zanarkand looked to for defence. One in particular, the Grand Summoner Yu Yevon, inspired their confidence. You must understand that whilst a summoner is considered a rarity today, centuries ago there were hundreds in Zanarkand alone. The abilities of Yu Yevon and his summoners were of the highest calibre. However, for all their wisdom and magical power, they had truly underestimated Bevelles ambitious determination to see Zanarkand wiped from the face of the earth. The defences failed and Zanarkand was obliterated."
Yuna sniffed quietly.
"The people who survived that night woke up to an unrecognisable landscape. Their beloved city, in ruins. Most of the summoners were dead, although Yu Yevon survived. He vowed to exact a terrible vengeance on Bevelle, and all others who followed them into using destructive machina weapons. Yu Yevons plan required measures that no summoner had ever taken before. He ascended the slopes of Mt Gagazet with the survivors and there they volunteered to become his Fayths. With the power of the Fayths of Zanarkand he encased himself in armour, and by armour I don't mean the type which is worn. The armour he crafted was of a magical kind, an aeons power but a power which had never been seen in this world before. What he crafted around himself was an aeon, and that aeons name was Sin."
Yuna suddenly shrieked before she covered her mouth and gasped for breath. "Yu Yevon is Sin?" she said, bewildered.
"In a manner of speaking, yes. Yu Yevon became Sin, and with his new found power he lay siege to Spira. One by one the great machina cities fell to Yevons power. Bevelle was in a state of disarray, its weapons were useless, they could not pierce Sins armour and entire armies were decimated. Millions died."
Yuna had gone pale. "But Yunalesca? She stopped Sin didn't she? But she was from Zanarkand?" Yuna found what she had heard difficult to accept, it went against years of learning, and centuries of teachings.
"Yes, there was a way to stop Sin. Yu Yevons plan went much further than reckless hate. He had made himself immortal, in his invincible armour. He ensured the only thing that could pierce that armour was a monumental sacrifice from a summoner. Only an aeon of momentous power could defeat Sin. Before he encased himself in this armour he shared with his only daughter and heir, the secret of how to defeat Sin."
"But this cannot be!" Yuna blurted. "Are you telling me Belgemine, that Yunalesca was Yevons daughter? I don't understand this at all!" said Yuna, who buried her face in her hands and shook her head.
Belgemine considered Yuna for a moment. She felt sympathy for the girl. There was much that Yuna had to endure, but it was necessary, she had to know the truth, It was vital to Belgemines plan. "Yuna, I know this is difficult, but you must hear it all, and please be patient. Allow me to finish and then I will answer your questions, but right now it is vital you listen to everything I tell you."
Yuna lifted her head from her hands and looked at Belgemine, with tearful eyes. Finally, she nodded.
"Yunalesca is Yevons daughter, yes. Yunalesca was not in Zanarkand when it fell under attack. She and her husband, Zaon, had fled to the safety of Gagazet, and there they waited, as their city fell into ruin. It was then that she was reunited with her father, who passed on the secret to her. For Yevon had a specific purpose for Yunalesca. For months Sin laid siege to Spira. When Bevelle was battered and desperate, Yunalesca approached them with the teachings of her father. She promised Bevelle, and the rest of Spira, a way to defeat Sin, if they adopted Yevons teachings. Bevelle agreed to Yunalescas terms, and so the temple of Yevon was founded. Under the constant fear of death and destruction, Yevons teachings spread quickly across the land. When Yunalesca was satisfied she returned to Zanarkand accompanied by her husband. It was there that Zaon confessed his unyielding love and loyalty to both Yunalesca and to Zanarkand. He gave his soul to her, and became the final aeon. With the final aeon in her possession, Yunalesca was able to find her father and pierce the armour, thus defeating Sin for the first time."
"Now, you're no doubt wondering why Sin came back? Yunalesca had defeated Sin, much to the gratitude of Spira, but what they didn't know is what Yu Yevon and Yunalesca had truly done. When the final aeon pierces Sin, it destroys the shell, nothing more. You see, Yuna, Yu Yevon lives on as an immortal, inside the shell. When the final aeon pierces through the armour, Yu Yevon latches on to the aeon, and thus a new Sin is born. This is how the house of Yevon has kept Spira in a constant state of fear and destruction all these centuries. Sin is eternal, as is Yu Yevon, and Yunalesca, who entered Zanarkand for the final time a millenia ago, and there she remains, waiting. The teachings she spread led Spira to believe that in order to truly rid the world of Sin forever they must have complete atonement. It is a state of fear and control that Yunalesca wishes the world to remain in. And as long as summoners continue to make the journey to Zanarkand to obtain the final aeon and use it to defeat Sin, so it shall. It is a constant cycle."

Yuna remained silent for some time. She dared not speak, she did not know what to say. She fought back tears with all her might, until she could fight them no longer. When she spoke, she was overwhelmed with emotion. "So what you mean to tell me Belgemine, is that even if I make it to Zanarkand, I would have to choose one of my friends to die with me, and even if we defeat Sin, it will come back anyway? And there is nothing I can do about that, I must simply accept it? Well I can't! There must be a way!" she struggled through her tears.
"There is a way Yuna, you're holding it in your hand." said Belgemine.
Yunas eyes widened and looked down at the ring. "Yevons ring?"
"I am sure that you have no doubt guessed that this is no ordinary ring?"
Yuna nodded, she held up the ring and examined it carefully. "Why does it feel so horrible? I noticed that even you are reluctant to go near it, Belgemine."
Belgemine looked uncomfortable. She had leaned back on her chair, and was edged as far away from the ring as possible. "It has such a feeling because it is no ordinary ring, It contains a portion of Yu Yevons soul." said Belgemine.
Yuna dropped the ring suddenly, and it made a ringing sound on the table. She looked at the ring suspiciously. "What do you mean, a portion of his soul?"
Belgemine rested her eyes on the ring for a moment, before she returned her gaze to Yuna and spoke again.
"When Yu Yevon created Sin, it was not the first time that he had experimented with dangerous magic. The turmoil between Zanarkand and Bevelle went on for years, so there were many false alarms and predictions about when war would start. In this time, Yu Yevon was experimenting with forbidden magic that had not been used in centuries. It was a dark and gruesome spell that he used, the likes of which I will not speak of. What is important is what happened. Yu Yevon used forbidden magic to split his soul. He split his soul and contained a portion of it in that ring. As long as this ring survives, his spirit will live on."
"But why would he split his soul?" asked Yuna.
"Because according to the scriptures he was consulting, to split the soul brings one closer to the realm beyond. He became more withdrawn from the world of the living and more in touch with the realm of aeons. This is how he managed to create his own aeon around himself. However, splitting the soul is a great peril. The containers safety must be ensured, for if it is destroyed, the other portion of the soul will not survive, resulting in death."
Yuna thought carefully. "And you say Yu Yevon lives on inside Sin, consuming the aeon that defeats it, so if this ring is destroyed, Sin will be defeated? Truly defeated?!"
" Yes, I believe so." Belgemine smiled.
"You don't know for certain?" said Yuna, desperately.
"I am afraid not, dear Yuna. It is only a theory, and I have had many of them over the years. But my theories have a tendency to be correct, so I would say there is a very good chance indeed, that if this ring were to be destroyed then Sin would be defeated once and for all."
Yuna let out a small, relieved laugh. "So then, how do we destroy it?" she said, excitedly. She looked around the room, as if to look for an object capable of destroying the ring. "What if we threw it into the fire?" asked Yuna.
"Try!" said Belgemine. "Try now!"
Yuna picked up the ring and looked at it. It was so smooth and beautifully engraved. The crest of Yevon captivated her, and gave her an unusual sense of pride for reasons which she did not understand. The gold ring glistened, it truly was precious. When Yuna picked up the ring, she did so with the intention of throwing it into the fire. However, she found now that she could not do so. The ring felt heavy, and the more she struggled to throw it into the fire, the heavier it became. When she mustered all her strength in an attempt to throw it away - she found she had placed it back on the table.

Belgemine laughed grimly. "You see, Yuna? Even now, having only just received this ring, you cannot rid yourself of it or risk harm to it. I would not risk taking it from you by force for it would no doubt destroy you. As for destroying that ring through normal means, it is useless. Not even a fiends fire would harm that ring. Only in the crypts of the ancient forges of Zanarkand can that ring be undone."
"Zanarkand.." Yuna mused. "You know its funny. I've spent years at the temple, learning the teachings, reading the scriptures and the history of Spira and I never questioned it, not once. But now.." Yuna trailed off.
Belgemine eyed Yuna carefully. "And now?"
"I was prepared to give my life, Belgemine. I was prepared to journey and fight Sin, so that Spira can be safe, so Spiras children can be safe. I wanted to bring the calm, more than anything I wanted that. But now that I know Sin always comes back? It changes everything. Before we hoped, we always hoped that it wouldn't come back again. That we had atoned for our sins. Now I know the truth I couldn't do it.."
"Yet there is a way for Sin to be destroyed for good." Belgemine reminded her.
"I do want to destroy it!" Yuna said earnestly. "I just don't think I have the heart to make it to Zanarkand now, after everything you've told me Belgemine, you know so much about it all. I wish O'aka had never given this to me!"
"It has come to you for a purpose, Yuna." said Belgemine.
"But Belgemine, you're wise and powerful, why don't you take it?"
"No!" cried Belgemine, springing to her feet. "Do not tempt me Yuna! I would take this ring with a desire to do good, but through me it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine. Do not tempt me!" Belgemine backed away.
There was a long silence. Belgemine looked out of the window and out at the beach. There were a few guests about, although most had retired to the tents. When Belgemine remained silent, Yuna spoke.
"Belgemine? If the ring belonged to Yu Yevon, how did it come into O'akas possession, or how did he lose possession of it at all for that matter? It doesn't make any sense." said Yuna exasperated. She froze suddenly. "Come to think of it Belgemine, how do you know this is the ring you speak of? What makes you so certain?"
Belgemine looked at Yuna grimly. "I had my suspicions for years with O'aka, but tonight you have given me the proof."
"Me?" said Yuna, perplexed. "How?"
"It took O'aka years to become attached to that ring." said Belgemine, pointing to Yunas hand. "He thought it was a fancy relic, but he always kept it wrapped away, locked in a chest in the cellar. It was only in the later days of his ownership that he took to staring at it for hours, along with his other old possessions. Eventually, it was only when he was confronted and asked to give up the ring that he turned sour. However, you haven't even owned it a single night and already you guard it so protectively, and ever since you unwrapped it you have barely stopped fingering it." Belgemine did not speak calmly but there was a stern look in her eye.
Yuna looked down at the table, guiltily. She had not realised she had the ring in her hands the whole time they had been talking.
"The ring affects you more than it does everyone else, and I will tell you why. And there is no easy way to reveal this information to you but you are a descendant of the house of Yevon."
Yuna gasped and she grabbed her mug and drained it, choking on the wine. "But how?!" Yuna spluttered.
"The house of Yevon went much further than Yu Yevon, his wife and Yunalesca. Yu Yevon had a brother, who had died years before Zanarkands fall. He resisted capture after being confronted by a Bevelle military patrol in the calm lands and was killed. They took his wife and child prisoner where they were treated as distinguished guests. For all their military totalitarianism, Bevelle did not lack honour and it did not ill treat its prisoners, especially nobility. They had no doubt hoped that they could use such a prestigious family as leverage with Zanarkand."
"Suffice to say, a diplomatic solution was not reached and it was not enough to pressure Zanarkand. However, after Zanarkands destruction Bevelle found it was in their interests to keep Yevons relations alive. They were summoners, and their ability to use magic was invaluable to Bevelle, who sought to use it to increase their power. It was their safety that made Yunalesca more willing to negotiate with Bevelle and in turn, easier for Bevelle to adopt Yevons teachings. Whilst Yunalesca did not welcome the fact that her relations remained prisoner in Bevelle there was little she could do to conflict it if she wished for Bevelle to comply with her demmands. So she departed from Bevelle and from there she went to Zanarkand to obtain the final aeon. After Sin was defeated and Yunalesca retired to Zanarkand, Yazandra was murdered at the word of Bevelle. The son, who was still young, was one of the first children to be taken in my the temple. He was stripped of his noble status and he was too young to have knowledge of his noble lineage. He grew up within the temple and later became a summoner. Although he failed to defeat Sin, he did leave a wife and children behind. Satisfied that the traces of the Yevon name had been destroyed, Bevelle praised his families valiant efforts and there they remained. Generation after generation. Many in that line became summoners, others lived entirely different lives. But they always stayed in Bevelle, it was their ancestral home, and they took pride that each generation had lived within its walls, until finally ten years ago Lord Braska set out from Bevelle with two guardians on a journey to defeat Sin. You were taken from Bevelle and brought up here, in the relative safety of the Besaid islands."
Yuna remained silent for a long time, carefully absorbing what she had heard. A thought worried her. "Belgemine, does Yunalesca know I'm alive?"
Belgemine looked thoughtful as she smoked her pipe.
"I doubt it Yuna. The dead do not have an enhanced insight about such things. I can only speculate what Yunalesca knows, of course. I imagine she assumed the line ended long ago. Who knows what she thought when she met Braska ten years ago? There is no way of knowing. But It is very likely she believes her relatives have all been lost to time. Does that comfort you?"
Yuna, who until that moment had looked rather on edge, slowly exhaled and relaxed. "Yes, that does make me feel a lot better. But Belgemine, you still haven't answered how Yevon even managed to lose the ring, seems a bit odd don't you think? Especially as it was so precious to him."
"Ah, yes." said Belgemine, slowly. "Now that is where we truly enter the realm of speculation. My quest for knowledge has driven me to the far corners of Spira and back over the years, and I still cannot find a definitive answer. A great historian, Maechen, who I hold in high regard believes it is possible that it slipped from his finger as he transformed himself into an aeon, its purpose fulfilled. In which case it should have passed to Yunalesca. Maechen believes that the ring is usable by all of the same bloodline, but no other. It is plausible that this is the case due to the fact that when he split his soul, he poured his soul and his lifeblood into that ring as it was forged, which would mean the ring would recognise all who share his blood."
"However, Yunalesca did not obtain the ring. It was lost in time, buried in the ground due to the horrific transformation of Yevon which shattered the landscape. The ring was lost. As for how the ring left Gagazet, well, the Al Bhed in the decades following Zanarkands destruction were one of the first to traverse its ruins, scavenging machina, spare parts and other trinkets. From there it may have traded ownership all over Spira until it finally found rest in the dark depths of the underground Al Bhed cities, until it was recovered by O'aka sixty years ago."
"Wow" said Yuna, softly. She looked down at the ring. It gleamed invitingly in her hand, as if calling to her, inviting her to put it on her finger. Suddenly, she lifted her head as she felt Belgemines eyes on her.

Belgemine puffed on her pipe and appeared lost in thought. Her eyes appeared closed and relaxed but she was tense, and under her lids she was watching Yuna intently. Yuna reached for the bottle of wine on the table and refilled her mug and sipped it slowly, deep in thought. She swirled her wine, gazing deep into the mug and watched the liquid flow. Her mind mulled over everything she had heard from Belgemine. It confused her greatly and yet there was sense to be made of it, even if she didn't like the truth she had been burdened with. Her thoughts wandered to the sacred city of Zanarkand, a city that had been obliterated and was now known as the dead city. Yuna wondered what horrors lay there, and the thought of Yunalesca, waiting to greet the arrival of summoners who endured the long road. Yunalesca, neither living nor dead. Unsent, and yet still in the realm of the living, refusing to be laid to rest in the farplane.
"Well!" said Belgemine at last. "What is on your mind Yuna? Have you decided what you will do?"
"No!" sighed Yuna. She hesitated briefly before continuing. "And yes I suppose I know what I must do, I am just afraid to do it." said Yuna, sadly.
"So are all who are burdened with such things." said Belgemine, consolingly.
Yuna looked hard at the ring. She felt it captivating her, she was being drawn ever closer to it. She imagined herself wearing it and all powerful, her lineage restored and acknowledged by all. She imagined even the Grand Maester of Yevon conceding to her power. The thoughts terrified her, the longing for recognition of her superiority was a feeling that was entirely foreign to her. Finally she tore her gaze away from the ring and looked at Belgemines concerned face.
"I will go on pilgrimage as planned, until we know more. I cannot explain what you have told me to everyone, nor do I think you would want me to." said Yuna, determined. For a moment she thought she saw a tear in Belgemines eye and she hastily grabbed her mug and drank deeply. When she looked at Belgemine again she was smiling.
"My dear Yuna!" exclaimed Belgemine. "I fear you are right. Your refusal to go now would only arouse suspicion and I fear, also disappointment. The last thing we want is for people to be conjuring up theories about your decision to refuse to take the pilgrimage. However, I think you will be safe in telling your Guardians everything that I have told you tonight as they are not just your Guardians, but your family. You need everybody you can trust with you on this journey Yuna. It was never a road for the faint of heart, and especially difficult for one who knows the truth. For I fear you will ever have the desire to turn from the path you walk. Hold true to your decision Yuna. Things are now being set in motion that must be seen through to its conclusion. Too long has Yunalesca and Sins dominance over Spira been unopposed, and now we finally have a way to end it all, we must be strong."
Suddenly Belgemine stopped, as if listening intently. She crept silently down the hallway towards the door. Suddenly she opened the door and grabbed a boy and threw him into the house. There was a yelp of protest from the boy and he backed away from Belgemine, looking apprehensive. He had sandy blonde hair and unusual clothing.
"Well, well, well! The one from sea, isn't it?" said Belgemine, bemused.
"I..I got too close to Sin and my heads all foggy like!" the boy stuttered.
"What have you heard?" demanded Belgemine.
"Well." the boy began, shifting uncomfortably. "I heard a load of stuff about Zanarkand and a war and Yevon and also something about a ring and how..Yuna is involved somehow?" the boy looked at Yuna, clearly confused and overwhelmed.
"And is there any particular reason you just decided to eavesdrop on a private conversation?" inquired Belgemine, threateningly.
"Please Belgemine!" interjected Yuna. "Do not threaten him. Wakka believes he got too close to Sin and is being effected by the toxin. He has no idea what is going on. Please forgive him!" pleaded Yuna.
Belgemine looked at the boy skeptically. "Have you got a name, boy?" she inquired.
"Uhh..Tidus." he said.
"You must promise not to utter a word of what you have heard hear, do you understand me?" Belgemine warned.
Tidus nodded hastily and in a poor attempt to act natural he stretched lengthily. "Well It's late, I better go get some sleep!" he said, almost running for the door.
"Wait!" said Yuna. She ran forward and grabbed him by the arm and turned to face Belgemine. "What if he comes with me?"
Belgemine considered this for a moment, a curious glint in her eye. "Go with you, are you sure?"
"Yes. I trust him." said Yuna, confidently.
"And what say you, boy?"
"We're all travelling together anyway, at least to Luca." Yuna encouraged.
"In that case, right on!" said Tidus, gesturing with his fist.
"Indeed, Luca is an important destination for us all. In the next couple of days I must depart, there are questions I need answering. I will meet you in the Al Bhed bar in Luca during the tournament. It will be more discreet, away from Yevons eyes."
Yuna said farewell to Tidus and watched him walk into the darkness, down the path and back into the village.
"It's very late, or very early by the look of the sky. I should probably head back too." said Yuna, bowing to Belgemine.
"Yuna I want you to stay here tonight, do not forget that this is your house now. You may speak to your guardians in the morning and as for the ring, keep it secret and keep it safe! Now with all that said, I am finally going to bed!" and with no hesitation Belgemine turned down the hall and into the guest room.