Chapter 33: Finale…
The time was almost upon us. Vegnagun was just about ready and with it, I will vanquish all of the darkness on Spira. The people will cease to exist, I along with them. We will all be at peace, no more wars, no more torture. "Don't do this." Someone said. I turned from my seat on Vegnagun and noticed yet another fayth, one that hadn't been here before. "Why not? Wasn't it you, two years back, who wanted the same thing I want now? You suffered for a thousand years, dreaming of a false Zanarkand while the rest of Spira was plagued by Sin. Didn't you want Yuna to destroy you and send you here so that you wouldn't have to suffer? There is no difference between the way you ended your pain and the way I'm going to end Spira's." I told her. "No… We didn't want to dream of Zanarkand any longer. That doesn't mean we didn't want to exist." She replied. "That isn't the point. The point is that you suffered and you wanted it to end. Destruction was your solution; it is mine, as well." I said, knowing full well that was the truth of the matter. The fayth said nothing more, solemnly watching me, unable to make any more arguments. "Make yourself useful." I easily told her, possessing her to go to the exterior of the Farplane to defend against intruders. "What you are doing is madness!" Another woman, also a fayth, said soon after, "What you are thinking is no different than what my son thought two years ago. Life is suffering, but we live it anyway. Don't you get it?" I turned to her with a look of boredom, "Look lady, I don't know much about this Seymour, but if that's his belief, he's right. Why go through life feeling endless pain and torment when you can end it now?" It seemed like the simplest thing in the world to me: Life equals suffering, death equals tranquility. What was so hard to understand about that? "Listen to the voice of reason!" She pleaded. "Listen to it yourself. Get out of my face and go help Shiva." I commanded, possessing her, as well, frustrated as I was that no one could see the gift I was bestowing upon Spira.
Suddenly, I felt a presence in the Den of Woe that housed a few of my other pyreflies. Once again, Yuna was there, Lenne's spirit emanating from her body. "Hmm, so they've successfully obtained those other spheres. The door has been unlocked and the nightmare of the past revealed. This should prove amusing…" I told myself, smirking vilely. Paine took a deep breath, "Time to face my past. C'mon." The three of them walked around the cave, eventually reaching the area where our skeletons lay. It was the same spot where I had first used my new abilities. Perhaps it was time to show these girls just what I was capable of. Using the pyreflies, I created phantoms of the three whose lives I'd destroyed. "Something's coming!" The blonde yelped. "Guys!" Paine gasped, staring in horror. As easily as I'd made them, I made them vanish. "You okay?" Yuna asked Paine. The latter stared blankly at the spot where the three men had been, "What was that?" "Are they… unsent? No, that can't be right." The blonde stammered, a puzzled and worried look on her face. "Pyreflies. I've seen this before. There are places where pyreflies cling to people's memories and make them eternal." Yuna explained. Well, she was partially right. The pyreflies made those phantoms based on my memory of that day. "Those were the guys' memories from back then… preserved by the pyreflies. Memories... or two year old nightmares." Paine added. I decided that it was time to make my presence known, "Older than that." I appeared in front of them, feeling the fear from each of their hearts. "Shuyin." Yuna gasped. "You!" Paine growled. I smiled at them, enjoying how much my presence was unnerving them. "I wanted to rest forever, but the pyreflies make me relive that moment… again and again and again." I told them, disappearing and reappearing near the Al Bhed. Whatever it was the bothered me about her, it would soon stop. I possessed the girl, making her scream as she tried to resist me. Effortlessly, I forced her to unsheathe she daggers. "Rikku!" Yuna screamed. Ah, yes, Rikku. That's the girl's name. She was Yuna's cousin, her father Cid being Yuna's uncle. She had been one of Yuna's guardians two years ago when she defeated Sin. "Something's wrong. Stay back!" Paine warned. I used more pyreflies to manifest myself in front of the warrior, as well. She immediately tried to cut me in two, but that was ineffective and I possessed her, too. Even as they both struggled against my control, I forced them to take up arms against their friend. "What's going on?" Yuna asked. This was perfect. If my speech hadn't done the trick, this would, "You will see." I projected myself into Yuna's mind, making her see exactly what Lenne and I went through over one thousand years before. She watched calmly, her heartbeat steadily climbing while my memories played for her. Finally, she knew and it frightened her to her very core. "Stay back!" She yelled, once I left her mind, aiming her pistols at me. "This is our story, Lenne." I told my love, her presence now fully shown. While Yuna cowered, her hands trembling as she held those guns to me, Lenne was beside her, also kneeling. I know it hurts, Lenne. It ripped my soul to pieces to have to see that for so long. However, because of this, I'm enlightened. I realize what must be done to bring us peace. "Don't make me say this again! I'm… not… Lenne!" Yuna shouted, her voice quivering out of fear, despair, and grief. It was quite amusing that I'd reduced her to this. That'll teach you to use my Lenne as one of your toys. She cocked her guns, ready to fire. I laughed at the foolish attempt and walked Rikku and Paine to her, ready to fight… or take a bullet if she was that lost. Just to be that much more nasty, I allowed those two a brief moment of freedom. "Rikku?" Yuna asked her cousin. With a sadistic smile, I took control of them once again, the blonde screaming loudly, much to my delight.
Yuna dodged Rikku's attacks, not knowing what to do that could stop her cousin without ending in her death. I forced Rikku to continue her attack, the abilities of the Thief Dressphere, as it was called, being quite impressive to me. Yuna sphere changed to Gun Mage and fired a blue bullet at the girl, but I easily made her dodge. This girl was fast. It was like she ran on pure lightning… Pure lightning… Hmm, that sounded familiar. In any case, I kept dodging her shots and slashing when I could. Eventually, I cut her across the arm, making her squeal in agony as blood trickled down and dripped onto the ground. She sphere changed again, this time into Floral Fallal, apparently her specialized Dressphere. She created a whirlwind, enveloping Rikku and doing some damage to her. Fast as she was, she couldn't dodge something like that. Harshly, the whirlwind threw her against a wall. Suddenly, the image of Kirin being blown into the wall of the Zanarkand stadium showed before me. "Kirin?" I gasped, seeing Rikku again, after my outburst. What was that all about? I couldn't watch her in pain anymore so I released my grasp on her mind. Hopefully Yuna would realize she was back to normal and not go overboard. Apparently, she didn't notice so I tossed Paine in front. "Snap out of it!" Yuna yelled, readying herself to fight the warrior.
I had Paine slash off one of the petals of the Floral Fallal, damaging the garment enough so that Yuna had to change again. This time, she mimicked Rikku, using her own variation of the Thief. Her speed greatly increased and Paine's skill wasn't as honed as mine. With her speed far less compared to Yuna's, the warrior took hit after hit, Yuna using the flat part of the daggers to injure, but not wound Paine. I kept trying to slice the summoner with Paine, but it didn't work. The dressphere of Rikku was far too dextral and Paine wasn't capable of catching up. Soon after, she fell to her knees, taking far too much damage to her legs to support the rest of her weight.
"Shuyin, stop!" A voice, one that was rather familiar, said to me, distracting me from my fun. "Larea… It's good to see you again." I said, turning to see her, "So, you've become one of the fayth of Zanarkand. Are you here to stop me, as well?" "Shuyin, this is crazy! Why would you do this?" She asked. I merely huffed, "As I told the Shiva fayth, you all wanted the same thing two years ago. I'm doing this for Rothel, too, ya know." Larea seemed to be upset at that fact more than pleased, "No, you're not doing this for him. He'd never want you to do something like this. Shuyin, do you know what the fayth dreamt of? We dreamt of a peaceful Zanarkand, one without worries or cares. We dreamt of you, a sweet and innocent man who knew only of his love for blitzball." "So that's why Yuna thought I was someone else. That's quite amusing, wouldn't you say, Larea? However, is this happy go lucky man me? I highly doubt it. Not even you know me as well as you might think. My heart has been filled with hate and anger for a lot longer than these past thousand years. Your dream version of me is faulty. He isn't real." I said harshly, glaring down at the summoner.
Meanwhile, with their minds' freed, Rikku and Paine rejoined Yuna. "Shuyin is no ordinary unsent!" Rikku stated. "Seems that way. When he died a thousand years ago, his feelings became intertwined with the pyreflies, creating this… apparition." Paine added. I'm so much more than a mere apparition. I'm the avatar of the apocalypse and the day of reckoning is upon us. "He's like a dream… or a nightmare." Yuna muttered, most likely recalling prior events. "He must have had some serious regrets for his feelings to act on their own like that." Rikku suggested. Girl, you have no idea. "This is what destroyed the squad; despair strong enough to crush the minds of those it touches. What just happened to us happened to them, too. Here, they felt Shuyin's despair. They went mad and they died. They killed each other!" Paine stated. My despair? What I shared with them was my wrath. They were Bevelle's. As far as I was concerned, they deserved to die. With Larea pausing for the moment, I reappeared in front of them, recreating the phantoms of the Crimson Squad survivors, "But these three lived. So… I decided to use them." Paine growled at me, swinging her sword in rage. I decided to leave them to this fight. Should they defeat the Crimson Squad, they'd leave this cave alive. Should they fail, they'd just be more corpses. This cave's had so many, three more wouldn't make a difference.
"Shuyin, a thousand years ago, I lost Rothel, too. It hurt so much, but even still, I'm not planning on destroying all of Spira as payback." Larea told me. "I didn't just lose Rothel. I lost Lenne… I lost Kirin… I lost every one of the people I loved. All of my friends… You weren't there Larea. You didn't see what I saw. You didn't have to say goodbye to their mutilated corpses one by one! I was right there! I held their dead bodies in my arms! Do you know what that's like? Do you know what it's like to bury your closest friend? Do you know how much it hurt to see Kirin like that? Don't even try to tell me you understand my pain!" I screamed at her, beginning to lose my patience. "I found Rothel's body, too! Don't try to tell me that you feel any worse than I did because I saw him, too! I saw how pale his body was. We were going to get married! Bevelle took the one person I loved with all of my heart so don't you dare tell me that I don't know how bad you feel, okay!" She screamed back. "You just don't get it. I didn't just lose the woman I loved. I didn't just have to see her die. I saw them all die. My heart was ripped out of my chest when I found them. You've never even seen what they did to Kirin. I wanted to save them and I failed. I died and do you know what I saw? I watched them die again and again, a million times over. I heard their screams in my head, felt the anguish in their hearts for a thousand years. I felt the pain of all of Spira for a thousand years. I'm sick to death of it, Larea! I'm sick and tired of suffering. I'm sick and tired of feeling people's pain. I was tortured by their deaths. I don't want anyone else to go through that again. Destroying Spira will make sure that never happens." I told her. Quietly, I saw a tear slide down her cheek, "You're so far gone…" I glared at her, "Take your meaningless ideals somewhere else. I'm not interested in hearing them. Make yourself useful. Call the Magus Sisters to help me. Stop living in your fantasy world; Spira never worked like that." With a wave of my hand, I possessed her and sent her off to guard the Farplane with Shiva and Anima.
Back in the Den of Woe, Yuna had subdued the apparition of Baralai, her kitana snapping the tanned Praetor's staff in two. They next engaged Gippal, the Al Bhed mirage wielding a rocket launcher for a weapon. "This should be amusing." I told myself. Without warning, he began firing missiles everywhere, firing from his gun ever so often. Each of the girls kept dodging, running around frantically as explosions erupted millions of rock fragments everywhere. It was insane, watching them run for their lives. This episode was highly entertaining to say the least. Of course, as always, good things must come to an end. Rikku sphere changed, her outfit turning into a blue jumpsuit, unzipped up to the waist. A yellow machina appeared next to her and she quickly got on. Without waiting even for a second, she flew the machina up to the roof of the cave and reconfigured the machina, turning it into a laser cannon, aimed directly at the blonde phantom. She fired and the blast took out Gippal rather quickly. However, next they faced Nooj, someone whose skills I knew all too well. I had been in his body for two years after all. He lacked speed, due to his leg, but his accuracy was superb. I shot for him and hit each girl in the chest. Lucky for them, one was in thick Dark Knight Armor, the other had Auto-Barrier so the shot was blocked, and Rikku simply hid in her machina. I kept firing shots and those two ended up hiding behind the machina, the barrier having been shattered and the armor starting to gain lots of potholes. "Hiding from me, huh?" I said from my seat back in the Farplane, "Baralai, have you ever seen Nooj's machina arm?" The Praetor didn't respond. "I think you have. Watch this." I said with a smirk. Back in the den, I made Nooj punch the ground with his arm. Nothing happened for a while, but then, the ground erupted in a blaze of light, destroying Rikku's machina. The three were hopelessly underpowered and it was time to finish it. I aimed my gun at Paine, most likely bringing back some bad memories for the girl. Suddenly, I felt Nooj sink to the floor and explode into pyreflies. "What was that?" I asked. As I looked on, I saw that Yuna's guns were smoking from the barrel. How could her bullets have been that powerful? "Guess that Catnip accessory really does work." Yuna told the other two. So they had some powerful equipment. It wouldn't really matter. They'd never be able to stop me from my goals.
A few hours later, they had entered the Farplane, swiftly advancing toward my position. I sent Shiva out to stop them. Obeying my will, she cast Blizzara, but the three of them weren't greatly affected. Yuna was using her Samurai Dressphere, evading the spell and dashing at the Aeon of Frost. Paine was in a Berserker Dressphere and had already used the garment's special skill, attacking quickly and harshly with her claws. Meanwhile, Rikku changed to Black Mage and cast multiple Firaga spells on Shiva. Yuna reached her and swung her sword like a cleaver, hacking away at the Aeon. Soon enough, Shiva fell to her knees and dispersed into pyreflies. "Your turn, Larea. Show them the power of the Magus Sisters!" I commanded of my former friend.
Obediently, Larea summoned the Aeon trio, blocking YRP's progression. Yuna changed to her Floral Fallal Dressphere again and sent wave after wave of wind at the Aeons. This didn't work as well as it had with Rikku. I simply had Larea use the Magus Sisters' wings to deflect the wind. Paine, in the meantime, snuck up on the widest of the three, Cindy. With her Warrior's sword, she carved Cindy up through the middle, defeating one third of the Aeon trio. "Hmm, very impressive. She stopped the Magus Sisters from using their overdrive." I said to Larea, knowing she could hear me even while being in Aeon form. Quickly, Mindy used Passado, damaging Yuna thirteen times with her stinger. Yuna quickly sphere changed to Trainer and used Yojimbo's Daigoro, or a variation of that dog, to take a bite out of the smallest of the sisters. Finally, Sandy made a move, using Razzia on Rikku. The head sister sent the waves of fire at the blonde, but Rikku used the speed of the Thief to easily dodge, flipping over the fire and stabbing her daggers into Sandy's shoulders once she finished the flip. Sandy stared shocked at Rikku before dissipating into pyreflies to follow her sister. Only Mindy remained, constantly stabbing the girls with her stinger. She stopped for one moment just to cast a Thundaga on Yuna and then she was on the move again. Daigoro was no match for the bee so Yuna changed back to Gunner form and shot round after round at the Aeon, missing every one. Finally, it seemed Rikku was getting exasperated by the speedy Mindy. She watched carefully, pinpointing all of Mindy's movements. Once she was sure, she lunged, successfully grabbing onto the Aeon's wings. It disabled her long enough for Yuna to fire fifteen rounds into her. While still in Rikku's grasp, Mindy disintegrated, the pyreflies moving back to the deeper part of the Farplane.
"Okay, Seymour's mom. Go get them." I ordered, sending Anima to fight the girls. If Anima was defeated, I still had my security locks to bar their path. The Aeon roared, using Pain to knock out Paine. Anima looked rather ferocious, but also seemed sad, seemingly imprisoned by those chains around its body. Yuna changed to Gun Mage and fired one of the stronger blue bullets, Super Nova, at Anima. The Aeon was engulfed in heat as strong as the sun. Through the heat, I commanded Anima to use Pain again, taking out Rikku. Seeing both Rikku and Paine unconscious, Yuna sphere changed to Alchemist and mixed a Potion and Phoenix Down, creating a Mega Phoenix just as Pain hit Yuna, as well. Each of the girls was instantly revived, ready to fight again. Yuna quickly changed back to Gun Mage and used Super Nova again. Meanwhile, Paine fired a few rounds of her guns at the Aeon and Rikku cast Ultima as a Black Mage. Each of the attacks did a pretty decent amount of damage to the Aeon, but Anima wasn't going to fall just yet. "Anima, time for your overdrive." I commanded. Anima readied its attack. Two of the three girls realized what was going on so they both changed to Warrior and jumped up at Anima, slamming their swords on either side of its neck. Anima was decapitated, its chained body dispersing into pyreflies.
"Yuna, I'm sorry. We weren't strong enough to stop him. We wanted to at least warn someone… but instead, we were dragged into the darkness. We're no better than fiends." The Bahamut fayth I'd first possessed told them, appearing since the other Aeons had been beaten. Yuna reassured the fayth, forgiving him for being unable to fight my power. "Please… Tell me… What is he?" She asked him. "Shuyin? Just a shadow. It may look like him, but the real Shuyin died long ago. Even after a thousand years, his hate and misery linger on. His feelings grew so strong, they began to act on their own… Eventually, they became a shadow, a shade that wants only to vanish but cannot." The fayth explained to Yuna. So I'm a shadow, eh? My emotions are acting on their own? Who do you think you're kidding? It's true I want to vanish, but I plan on making all of Spira vanish with me. Yuna seemed to feel a little more confident, "Just a shadow… I can handle a shadow." "Are you sure?" Paine asked, doubting the summoner. Yes, are you sure Yuna? Are you so sure you can take me down? Somehow, I don't think so. "I'll banish shadow with light." She explained. I could've gone into a seizure right at that moment. What a stupid remark. Oh, I'll banish shadow with light. What did she think this was? A comic book? "Light?" Rikku wondered. "Exactly!" I said aloud back in the Farplane's core. "Lenne's feelings." Paine interpreted. If Yuna was going to defeat me with Lenne's feelings, she was crazy. If anything, Lenne's feelings would strengthen my resolve. A thousand words of reassurance. I decided that I didn't want to listen to any more of her stupidity and went back to checking Vegnagun.
Within a few minutes, Yuna, Paine, and Rikku reached my security system. The only way to disable it was to play the organs. I deliberately gave them the notes, if they would take the time to find them. Even if they did, playing the organ required musical talent. That was why Gippal didn't make it to the party. Nooj was present, but only because, as my first possession, I figured it was sentimentally required to have him witness my victory. In any case, Yuna and her friends wouldn't be able to get to me without… help. Lenne could get to me. If she wanted to, she could bring Yuna's group closer. It wouldn't matter. Yuna would never be capable of defeating me. I've gone through too much to let a stupid girl with a crush on a copy of me win. Lenne aided and guided Yuna through the maze, playing the organ in that special way only she could. They reached the lifts, a place where they'd need the most skill. First, they had to navigate the platforms, stepping on the right ones that would play a melody I'd set for it. Once again, only Lenne would know that melody. She guided Yuna, effortlessly disabling the systems. "I've got a hunch that once we go on ahead, there's no turning back." Rikku stated. That's right little girl. Turn back now or be the first of Spira to fade. Together, they moved on, eventually reaching Nooj and me.
"Both Baralai and Vegnagun belong to him now." He said, noticing the arrival of the Gullwings. I decided to wait for them. I wanted to see what they could do to Vegnagun. Nooj told them of his retarded plan to blow himself up with me. It was funny how he didn't realize I could easily possess one of the other bodies around. Not to mention, I would be stupid not to use my sword to block his stupid bullet. "I don't like your plan. It sucks." Yuna replied. I agree with you, Yuna. The summoner started rambling about her pilgrimage, about defeating Sin. While she spoke, I could feel the presence of several people, one of whom was her father. The other presence was Auron, the close friend of Braska and one who's pain I also felt. He felt hatred for Yunalesca for deceiving him about the Final Aeon. For ten years, he grieved, vowing revenge deep in his heart. Unfortunately, now he was against me. It wasn't anything new; I'd always been alone in my struggles. Kirin was the only one in my childhood that ever came to my aid. It was actually a blessing in disguise. Being forced to fend for myself meant that I was highly self-reliant. These people were all trying to stop me, but I'd show them just how difficult that can be. Unbelievably, the third presence was my own father. Of course, he'd assumed the role of the dream world's Jecht. Whatever, I didn't need him either. I could feel his guilt, his pity and it disgusted me. I needed no one's pity nor did I ever want it. Finally, I grew impatient and started to play the organ, activating the machina. "Look!" Paine warned. The lot of them ran away as Vegnagun sprung to life. Its legs uncoiled and grasped the tower of rock I created for it; its wings opened wide. I played the song of peril, great zeal coursing through me. My father decided to speak some words of encouragement to them, "It's just bluffing." "This relic's getting rusty." The man named Auron added. "Yuna, you have your friends." Braska said warmly, comforting his daughter with his voice. They decided to split up and attack Vegnagun in different parts. The blonde ditz and her team of fools attacked one of the legs. Nooj, Baralai, and Gippal went after me, attacking Vegnagun's chest. Finally, Yuna's group took on, of all the useless things, the tail. "Bring it on…" I said to myself.
While I busied myself, fending off the Crimson Squad's survivors, Vegnagun's automated defenses were holding off LeBlanc. The tail, on the other hand, barely equipped for close range combat to begin with, fell quite quickly. Even with its laser cannon and swiping, I knew that was no match for YRP. It hardly mattered anyway. I wasn't planning on destroying Spira with Vegnagun's tail after all. Fact was, I hadn't even started up the cannon yet. I wanted to see what these imbeciles thought they could do to me. With the LeBlanc Syndicate embarrassing themselves to no end, Yuna chose to come to their aid. "I'll let you have this one. I'm going to cheer Noojie on." The ditz said, cocky as ever. I really had no idea why Nooj would have ever fallen in love with her. She came with her two goons and tried to fight Vegnagun's chest with the rest of the Crimson Squad, but I sent a laser into those two buffoons and she came in alone, adding about a pinprick more damage. I knew Vegnagun was weakening. I knew that the Crimson Squad weren't pushovers. However, they didn't realize that Vegnagun wasn't even fully operational yet. I was saving that for just the right moment to make them realize the futility of this fight. Anyway, while I amused myself with them, Jecht kept giving hints on how Yuna's group could handle the leg. "You can read its moods. Watch those colors." He'd say. What a great father. He'd rather come to the aid of strangers, of outsiders, than help his own son. Whatever… I never needed him in the past and I sure didn't need him now. Eventually, they shut down that one leg…
I think Nooj and the rest of them started to tire. Obviously, Paine came to their rescue. They took over the fight for the weary. Yuna stayed Gunner, Rikku went to Samurai, and Paine changed to Dark Knight. They started to attack the legs and nodes, trying to take them out before going directly for the core. "Forget the small fries, go for the core. The core's your target." My father informed them. Of course, following his suggestion, all three of them began to target the core. Thanks pops. As Gunner, Yuna kept using Trigger Happy on it, the bullets doing barely any damage, though each proceeding shot doing a little more damage than the previous. The heavy damage came from the Dark Knight's Dark Sky ability. Rikku's Fireworks did some damage, also. I used the legs and whacked the blonde into Yuna, knocking them both off their feet. Unfortunately, Paine cast one last Dark Sky and Vegnagun's core exploded, spreading fire all over the machina's body.
Vegnagun collapsed onto the surface of the pillar. "What now?" Paine asked. The others rejoined the Gullwings and Rikku looked around, "Maybe it's over?" I turned to look at them, "Is it really?" I felt amused that they'd think so little of the behemoth. "Baralai!" Nooj screamed. Quickly, I turned back to the organ, "Yes, this world is over." I played the organ again, this time alternating the tone of the melody to signal for the cannon. Vegnagun revived and roared back into operation. The mouth opened wide and the cannon erupted from it. "Come, Vegnagun. Let us purge this repulsive world!" I exclaimed to the beast, starting to charge its power gauge. Yuna, Paine, and Rikku climbed up one of the legs and prepared to attack again. This time, they'd see the true power of this machina's defense. "The only faith you need is faith in yourself." Braska said, trying to boost his daughter's confidence. How's this for a confidence booster. I played a short melody and Vegnagun attacked with its Lacromosa ability. The group received heavy damage, "The end now begins." "If Vegnagun fires, it's all over. You have to stop it now, there is no overtime." Jecht warned, trying to get the girls back on their feet. They started coming at me again, the samurai using Zantetsu to destroy one of Vegnagun's horns. The Dark Knight used Darkness to heavily damage the other horn and Yuna used Trigger Happy, destroying it. Who were they kidding? "Mine is the power to crush Spira's despair!" I exclaimed, showing my defiance. Vegnagun struck the girls with Flare, one of the more powerful spells in a Black Mage's arsenal. Even though the attack was devastating to them, they wouldn't give up. They wanted to stop me, wanted me to fail again. I'd not lose so easily. They started aiming at Vegnagun's head, beginning to do damage to the internal systems. It didn't matter. Within a minute, Vegnagun would be ready to fire. "At last, Spira will be cleansed." I shouted loudly, making sure I was heard. Did you hear that dad? Vegnagun's practically ready to fire. Before the end, I decided I'd make the girls suffer for their insolence a little more. Playing the correct melody, I commanded Vegnagun to use its most powerful attack: Nemo Ante Mortem Beatus. The power of the machina completely overwhelmed both Yuna and Paine, but Rikku hung on for all it was worth. It really didn't matter. I've won… All of a sudden, the keyboard started to flicker and it seemed Rikku was doing more damage than I thought she could, "That a girl! The tides are turning." I frantically tried to keep playing, the sounds starting to die as Vegnagun began to succumb to all of their attacks. While bombarding Vegnagun with non-stop Holy attacks, the Al Bhed girl also revived both Yuna and Paine, which was a problem. I checked the power gauge for the cannon: 100. YES! "Now, Vegnagun! Fire!" I screamed, commanding the machina to shoot the Farplane core. It rattled a bit, but did nothing. No… They'd beaten it… Explosions flared up all around me and I was forced to abandon the cockpit. I hit the platform under Vegnagun's face hard, my mind going into a daze.
I couldn't really make out much of anything. My eyes were still cloudy and I could only sense one thing: Lenne's presence. "Shuyin…" I thought I heard her say. I looked on, barely able to keep myself on my feet. "Lenne?" I asked, trying to stop the spinning. "I need to tell you something that I couldn't tell you a thousand years ago." She said, pausing for a moment, "Thank you… You stayed with me until the end. I'm extremely grateful." "But I couldn't even save you." I said, wondering why she would thank me for dying with her. "That doesn't matter to me. Please don't go on regretting what's past all alone." She replied, extending a hand, "Rest now." I didn't know what to think. For a thousand years, I'd thought she'd never want to face me because I'd failed her. Could it be that she never wanted to be saved… or avenged? I knew Baralai had enough. Even if I was going to continue my plan, I'd use someone else. I released him from my control, allowing his weakened body to collapse onto the floor behind me. Returning my attention to Lenne, I reached out to her, steadily walking closer to my love, "Can we finally fade… together at last?" As I got nearer, something was wrong. Lenne's eyes started to look green and blue. Her hair started getting shorter… She looked like… "No…" I muttered, realizing I'd been tricked. "Wait!" She pleaded, the filthy wretch that she was. "YOU ARE NOT LENNE!" I growled, clenching my fists. You'll pay for that Yuna…
I unsheathed my sword and readied myself for battle. She thought she could fool me… She was wrong… dead wrong. "You're the only ones who can stop him!" Braska stated. Only ones? I don't think so. The only person who can stop me is Lenne… and she's not here to save you, Yuna… I glared at her, the treacherous witch. It made her tremble somewhat. I knew that my eyes were darkened greatly, overwhelming hatred and rage boiling inside me. "Stay focused!" Jecht commanded, making sure Yuna didn't lose her footing. Whatever she does won't matter soon enough… Without warning, I sped at them, slicing apart Rikku's sword and elbowing Yuna in the throat. Rikku quickly sphere changed to her Machina Maw and once Yuna stopped choking, she too went into her special dressphere. Paine followed suit, activating Full Throttle. I didn't wait for them to use an attack. Once Paine finished transforming, I sliced at her wing, cleaving it right off. She tried to send the sword floating above her at me, but I deflected each one, piercing through most of the petals of the Floral Fallal. Looking at Paine with a vile smirk, I pointed at her, "Be gone!" Quickly, I made a cartwheel, dodging Rikku's missiles. I flipped into the air and struck down on Paine with my Spin Cut, effectively knocking her unconscious. Yuna tried using her wind-based techniques on me, but the damage to her dressphere was too significant. She was forced to change to something else, her Gun Mage Dressphere. She fired a Super Nova at me, but I absorbed the energy into my sword, "Share my despair!" I sent the full force of my weapon out at the two remaining enemies. Rikku blocked with the machina, my overdrive tearing it to pieces. Not waiting for the smoke to clear, I ran through, slashing apart the gun Yuna was carrying. "Put that crybaby to sleep." Jecht mused. "Don't interfere!" I shouted back, running around those two, slashing countless times. Rikku slumped to the floor, reverting back to Thief form. Meanwhile, Yuna sphere changed back to Gunner and shot a few bullets at me. Big mistake… Not only had my overdrive injured her, slowing her movements, bullets weren't anything to use against me. I easily deflected all of her shots, sending them everywhere. Her final two shots came at me and I made sure to make them count. With a swing of my sword, I sent them flying into her legs, causing her to fall to the floor. "Vanish with the rest of Spira!" I screamed, stabbing my sword into Vegnagun and leaping off it. Kirin's blitz ball appeared above me. Starting my flip, I waited until it dropped and then kicked it hard, letting it explode near the two. When I landed, I saw Yuna, her legs bleeding as she stared into my eyes, fear emanating from every inch of her soul. I walked over slowly, taking in the moment. When I reached her, I lifted my sword, pointing the blade down at her, "I won't let anyone stand in my way…" I was about to plunge my weapon through the woman's heart when the other girl threw herself over her, "Don't! Please! That's enough!" She yelled at me, holding her arm out as if to keep me away. Something wasn't right about this. The other girl was supposed to be Rikku, but… "Kirin!" I blinked a couple times to make sure I wasn't seeing things, but Kirin remained there, pleading with me not to hurt Yuna. I backed off, dropping my sword on the ground and watching it dissipate into pyreflies. That look she was giving me… That's Lenne's look… It was how she looked at me when she was afraid. I didn't want Lenne to fear me… I… Gunshots! I relived my death again… Wait… No, that bullet was real. I looked back at Kirin and saw Yuna, the barrel of her gun fuming with a small amount of smoke. "It's almost over, Yuna." Auron told her. This couldn't be happening… What was I about to do? I continued to stare at Kirin, watching her as she looked at me oddly. I blinked once more and she was herself again, Rikku… I'd been beaten by my own heart…
"Shuyin…" Yuna said softly, pity echoing from her voice. I was searing with anger, "Don't even try to tell me you understand." I glared at the surface of Vegnagun's cannon, seething with rage at my failure. I'd failed again… I failed Lenne again…
A bright light showed off in the corner of my eye. I turned towards it and saw my love, encircled by a brilliant yellow light, the same as that of the sun. "Lenne?" I asked, not believing what my eyes were showing me. It couldn't have been her. I failed her again. Why would she want to see me? It was that Yuna again. She was trying to trick me. I growled under my breath and threw my arm at her. Why couldn't she just leave me alone? The woman caught my hand and pulled it toward her chest, cupping it with both palms. I knew that touch… "Lenne…" It really was her. "Finally…" She said, her voice as soft and silky as I remembered it. "Yea… It took a thousand years for this to happen." I said, my voice cracking from overwhelming joy, tears streaming down my face. "As long as we're together again, it's enough for me. I want you to know that you've touched me deeply." She said, putting my hand on her cheek, "Enough now. End this and come home." I shook my head gently, "How can I?" I didn't fix the problem yet… "All of that happened a thousand years ago. It's far too late to fix things anyway. Stop lingering on the past." She told me, putting her hands on my shoulders, "Rest now, Shuyin… Together forever?" I put my hands on my face to wipe away the tears. She was right. I was hanging onto the regret of the past, stuck in my hatred. Life is suffering, but we still live it. No one has the right to decide if it's worth it or not. "I wrote a new song… I'll sing it for you now." Lenne said softly to me, trying to ease my pain. I wrapped my arms around her waist, embracing her warmly. She was too good to me. Alright… enough of this. It's time for me to rest in peace… at last. "Thank you." I heard Lenne say. Yes, thank you, Yuna. I was wrong and you tried to show me that. Despite all I've done to you, you wouldn't give up on me. You did all you could and you brought Lenne back to me. And thank you, Rikku. Your light and you're innocence showed me what I'd clouded my heart from seeing for over one thousand years. If you hadn't bravely done what you did, I'd never have this moment; I'd never be at peace…