Chapter 33: Finale
Chapter 5
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 and I along with them. We will all be at peace, an Eternal Calm with no more wars and no more torture.
"Don't do this." Someone pleaded.
I turned from my seat on Vegnagun and noticed yet another fayth, one that hadn't appeared 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, "except that mine is much more permanent."
"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 explained, knowing full well that was the truth behind the disappearance of Dream Zanarkand two years ago.
The fayth said nothing more, solemnly watching me, unable to make any more arguments. "Make yourself useful." I easily told her, possessing her. I sent the fayth out of the core, out to the warped dungeon of the Farplane Glen. Her Aeon was Shiva and I could use her to stunt the path of heroes.
"What you are doing is madness!" Another woman, also a fayth, exclaimed 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: Spira equals suffering, no Spira equals tranquility. What was so hard to understand about that?
"Listen to the voice of reason!" She begged of me.
"Listen to it yourself. Get out of my face and go help Shiva." I commanded, possessing her, as well. I was highly disappointed and frustrated that no one could see the gift I was bestowing upon this world.
"Why don't any of you understand?" I growled, "This world has failed us! We have failed ourselves. Our lives are worthless and tarnished by all the meaningless wars we've fought. This is the ultimate end! The true Eternal Calm!"
It was Anima's fayth who answered as Shiva was totally gone, 'If you choose my son's path… I fear it will only lead you to his destiny. Turn back, Shuyin. Zanarkand believed in you. You are still their shining star!'
"The star has long since extinguished. Your son's fate was unfortunate. I'm sorry. I felt his grief and I felt your remorse when I was still in the Den of Woe. He was upset with himself for failing his mission, but I'll pick up where he left off. Then, there was you. While I was setting up the Youth League, I could sense your sadness for your son, the shade of failure consuming you even while you were sent. This is why I want to do this. I want these ugly things to vanish." I explained to the fayth, the first time in ages since I felt my humanity.
'For your heart's true desire, I hope for your success. For your intent, may Yevon help us all.'
A while later, I felt a presence at the Den of Woe that had housed a few of my original 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 the much less stubborn Baralai, 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's time to show these girls just what I am 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 made them, I removed them from play.
"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." Paine added, "Memories... or two year old nightmares."
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 had unnerved 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 surrounded the girl with my pyreflies, making her scream as she tried to resist me. Effortlessly, I forced her to unsheathe she daggers.
"Rikku!" Yuna screamed.
Ah, yes, Rikku. That was 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. She was lively… She was very lively. It felt so familiar, but I couldn't see it. It only angered me that this one girl could have perplexed me so. What was it about her? Why did I care?
"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 obviously 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, "You will see," this would.
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 saw the moment that froze my soul in time 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 from those wretched memories.
'I know it hurts, Lenne. It ripped my heart 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.' I thought as I gazed upon her, my angel.
"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 nastier, 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. See, I'm a quick study. And this girl was fast. It was like she ran on pure lightning… Pure lightning… Hmm, that sounded familiar, too. Like she could power… Never mind. I kept dodging Yuna's shots and slashing when I could get one in. 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 of energy, enveloping Rikku and doing some damage to her. Fast as she was, she couldn't dodge something like that. Harshly, the whirlwind of light tightened around the girl and threw her against a wall. Suddenly, the image of Kirin being blown into the wall of the Zanarkand stadium flashed before me.
"Kirin?" I gasped, seeing Rikku again after my outburst.
What was that all about? I couldn't bear to watch Rikku in pain anymore so I released my grasp on her mind. Hopefully, Yuna would realize she was back to normal and not go overboard, but she didn't so I tossed Paine in front to intervene.
"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 a far cry as compared to Yuna's, the warrior took hit after hit, Yuna using the flat part of the daggers to bruise, 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 with her mediocre training. 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 I found to be rather recognizable, said to me, distracting me from my fun.
"Larea… It's good to see you again." I purred, turning to greet my best friend's girl, "So, you've become one of the fayth of Zanarkand also. 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, this joyful youth, can he possibly be 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 stated harshly, glaring down at the summoner.
Meanwhile, with their minds' freed, Rikku and Paine rejoined Yuna. "Shuyin is no ordinary unsent!" Rikku noted.
"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 Spira's final days and the day of reckoning has arrived.'
"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 the conversation between Larea and I paused for the moment, I recreated my likeness before them, also recalling 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 too big a difference. I realized by then that I really didn't need Yuna to keep Lenne. I needed only her Songstress Dressphere. Thanks were in order to Rikku and Paine. Their minds told me all I needed about the dresspheres, Garment Grids, and the Al Bhed boy who invented it all, Shinra.
"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?!" 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 happened after that? I watched them dying 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 every single Spiran. I felt them for far too long. I'm sick to death of it, Larea! I'm sick and tired of the torture. I'm sick and tired of hearing people's final thoughts. I was tormented with the killings, Yu Yevon's twisted 'Age of Sin'. 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."
Still, she stood there, allowing me to sense her emotions, too. Her distraught emotions: the loss of Rothel and the thought of failing to bring me back. This was exactly what I was talking about!
"Make yourself useful! Call the Magus Sisters to help me. Stop living in your fantasy world; Spira never worked like that and you know it!" With a wave of my hand, I took hold of 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 every so often. Each of the girls kept dodging, running around frantically as explosions erupted millions of rock fragments everywhere. This episode was highly entertaining to say the least. Of course, as always, good things must come to an end. Gippal emptied his weapon and discarded his pistol. Instead of ranged attack, he activated the saw-like propulsion mechanism on the rocket launcher to be used as a melee weapon called Grinder. What was Grinder? Well, Yuna found that out as soon as she went to block Gippal's overhead swing. Her kitana was sliced in two and the Al Bhed wasn't through yet. Immediately, he pulled back and jabbed the girl twice in her plate mail, shattering the armor.
'Hmm, he's actually quite good. Maybe I should've gone with him, eh, Baralai?' I taunted the silent Praetor.
Finally, Rikku sphere-changed, her outfit turning into a blue jumpsuit, unzipped 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 it, turning it into a laser cannon aimed directly at the blonde phantom. She fired and the blast removed 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 square in the chest. Lucky for them, one was in thick Dark Knight Armor, Yuna 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 gleamed from my seat back in the Farplane, "Baralai, have you ever seen Nooj's machina arm?"
And the Praetor didn't respond. "I think you have. Watch this." I added 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. But first, I wanted to do a little more damage. Nooj leaped into the air, an aura surrounding him as I fully tapped into his machina capabilities. The arm charged a large ball of light, almost mirroring Elumina's NovaBurst if only a human could ever manage that overdrive's potential. It was Lightfall, a move I had conceived when starting the Youth League. As Nooj fell, I had him hurl the sphere at the three of them, bringing each to her knees. Once the visibility was regained, I approached them and aimed Nooj's gun at Paine, knowing that it would bring back some bad memories for the girl. However, just as I was about to fire, I saw Nooj sink to the floor and explode into pyreflies.
"What was that?" I asked.
As I witnessed, Yuna was back in Gunner form, her pistols smoking from the barrel. How could her bullets have been that powerful?
"Guess that Catnip accessory really works." Yuna told the other two.
'So you have some powerful equipment.' It wouldn't really matter. They'd never be able to stop me from my goals regardless of accessories.
The silence that followed brought an ominous threat with it. Yuna's gang would no doubt come for me and I would need to prepare. It had been ages since I truly fought and my skills could have dampened. With my power, I called for fiends to generate in the Farplane and began my attack. One boldly dove in for a quick kill, but I easily tossed Baralai aside and saw-bladed through. Then, I kicked off the fading creature to hurl myself into another fiend. The ogre made a lunge, but I landed on its back and carved my saber down its spine all the way to the end. With a scream, it exploded back into the depths. Suddenly, an Ultima came my way, but I merely swiveled away from the spell's range and flung my sword at the center of the Dark Element. Then, before it unraveled, I leaped onto it and reclaimed my weapon before pushing off it into my next foe. The worm opened its mouth, intent on swallowing my form whole, so to appease it, I dove right at the beast, side-spinning the entire way. Sure enough, I turned the fiend into confetti as each severed strand burst into a display of light. The following opposition was my classic favorites, a dragon and an armored tortoise, two of four legendary guardians. I had created them from my memories in the Cavern of Banished Aeons. It was where Lenne and I fought Zodiac and several other corrupted fayth. These two fiends were by far the toughest in the cave and I had enjoyed my bouts with them in the past. The Claret Dragon charged in for a bite, but I backflipped onto the turtle. Adamantoise tried to throw me off, but the dragon was already moving in for the kill. As it rose onto its hind legs, the dragon stuck again, but ended up with a mouthful of turtle guts instead. Dying, the massive fiend collapsed over the Claret Dragon, taking it out, too. While it fell, I rode it, tumbling along the back of the dragon at the last second to reach safe ground.
The last two fiends I made to test my mantle were none other than Omega Ruin's Omega Weapon and a Sacred Guardian known as Azi Dahaka. I had never fought Azi Dahaka in the early years, but there were stories about its power. It was said to dwell on a mountain built by the bones of failed heroes. With the workout, I had enough for a full charge Force Rain so I leaped into the air and fired at the two. The weapon was incinerated outright, bursts of its overloading body erupting from its carcass. It was never much of a challenge even when I spared it the first time back in those ruins. However, Azi Dahaka emerged completely unscathed.
"Oh, I like you." I commented while still plummeting backward.
The monster had shielded itself with its spiny tentacle-like wings much like the Sanctuary Keepers that sprouted up on Gagazet during the Machina War. The power of Force Rain sent me flying back towards Vegnagun where the foolish Praetor was attempting to shut it down. After I tossed him aside to tend to the Tindalos fiend, Baralai had come to and thought he could decommission Vegnagun while I was distracted. It was a simple matter of clocking him in the back of the neck with the hilt of my sword before I went back to Azi Dahaka.
Removing its wings from blocking its view, the fiend howled and shot bolts of photons into the sky. Moments later, I was dodging hails of light, inching my way closer to it. The attack was just like the Photon Wings I was used to, though much stronger this time around. It used that attack again, but I was getting close enough to strike. While dodging the bolts, I found the one that would land closest to it and pointed my sword to absorb. Likewise, it curled its wings again to block my overdrive, but I knew better. While blocking, it couldn't see me so I leaped onto a wing and slid down to its face. As soon as it saw me, it opened its mouth for a bite and that was curtains. With the energy from its Photon Wings, I aimed my sword and launched the blast right into it, destroying the creature from the inside. Still, it persisted and swiped a claw at me. Though unsent, my form was projected some distance away from the assault.
"Oh, I really like you. Once I'm done, you're going to be my doorman." I mused.
I could see it wasn't taking the internal Force Rain well, but it was still fighting. Out of the kindness of my heart, I rushed to it and sliced at it over and over, severing the wings, gashing the legs, and dislocating the jaw. Finally, as it groaned in pain, I stabbed my sword into the ground and kicked off it to perform the Jecht Shot high above. I assembled a blitz ball in the sky to use for my attack and once I landed, I reclaimed my sword and decapitated the dragon in one clean sweep.
"Legend said you would only die in a river of fire, Dahak. Guess legends lie." I hissed. Just as I finished, though, magma erupted from its mouth and pooled around its body, scorching the remains. "Or perhaps they just need better interpretation." I added.
Following the training sequence, I returned to the unconscious Praetor and took hold of him once more. 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. When Yuna reached her, she 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 old 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 light 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 energy. 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 mentioned 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 blades 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 collapsing next to 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 along with her two older siblings.
"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, totally not my idea by the way, but it worked out nicely. 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 a 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 beheaded, 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. Poor pitiful boy of Zanarkand past. I guess my choice of action doesn't fit my star's status quo.'
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 exclaimed aloud back in the Farplane's core.
"Lenne's feelings." Paine interpreted.
If Yuna was planning to defeat me with Lenne's feelings, she was crazy. If anything, Lenne's feelings would only 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 on Vegnagun's progress.
Within a few minutes, Yuna, Paine, and Rikku reached my security system. The only way to disable it was to play the organs. Fail and they'd have Azi Dahaka to deal with. 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 simple copy 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.' I warned, but together they continued to move, eventually reaching Nooj and me.
"Both Baralai and Vegnagun belong to him now." Nooj muttered, 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 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 Yuna's father, 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 sympathy 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 pillar of rock I created for it; its wings opened wide. I played the song of peril, great zeal coursing through me.
It was at this point that my father decided to speak some words of encouragement to them, "Ha, it's just bluffing."
"This relic's getting rusty." The man named Auron added.
"Yuna, you have your friends." Braska finished 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 would attack 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 smirked 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 exclaimed once YRP arrived, trying to sound as cocky as ever despite being so weak.
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 missile into those two buffoons and she came in alone, adding about a pinprick's worth more damage. I knew Vegnagun was weakening, though. I knew that the Crimson Squad weren't pushovers, Nooj especially. 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. Still, 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, however, they shut down that one leg…
I think Nooj and the rest of them started to tire by that point, what with Gippal groaning, "This thing just keeps ticking."
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 reconvened on the core. 'Thanks pops.'
As Gunner, Yuna kept using Trigger Happy on it, the bullets doing barely any damage, but with 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 hurting, 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, seemingly dismantled. "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 extended 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 fayth you need is faith in yourself." Braska cooed, trying to boost his daughter's confidence.
'How's this for a confidence booster?' I played a short melody and Vegnagun attacked with its Lacrimosa ability.
The group received major damage as I commented, "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, but 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 chord, I commanded Vegnagun to use its most powerful attack: Nemo Ante Mortem Beatus, no bliss before death. The power of the machina completely overwhelmed both Yuna and Paine, but Rikku hung on for all it was worth, changing to Berserker. It really didn't matter.
"I've won…" I quietly whispered.
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 her advances. Then, Rikku changed once again to White Mage. While bombarding Vegnagun with non-stop Holy attacks, the Al Bhed girl also revived both Yuna and Paine, which was a problem. I would need to finish this soon or else… I needed to finish. 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 should have said a thousand years ago." She continued to say, pausing for a moment before proceeding, "Thank you… You stayed with me until the end. I'm so grateful."
"But I couldn't even save you." I murmured, wondering why she would thank me for dying with her.
"That doesn't matter to me. Please stop regretting what's past all alone." She replied, extending a hand, "Rest."
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… never wanted to be avenged? I knew Baralai had had enough. Even if I was going to continue my plan, I'd need to 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?"
Still, as I drew nearer, something was wrong. Lenne's eyes started to change to a green and blue. Her hair started getting shorter… She almost started to look 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.
I unsheathed my sword and readied myself for battle. She thought she could fool me… She was wrong… dead wrong.
"You just don't get it, do you?" Rikku growled, the first time I ever heard her spite.
"I want you to cut out her heart and squish it. Give the rest of her to me." She had growled. I'd never heard so much bloodlust in her voice in my entire life.
No…
"Shuyin, please stop this!" Yuna exclaimed, as if I would listen to her treachery ever again.
"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.
"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, the suit of blades she used to subdue Yojimbo. 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 swords 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 in the process. I flipped into the air and struck down on Paine with my Spin Cut, effectively knocking her unconscious. Yuna tried using her pollen 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 my 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 single well-placed swing of my sword, I sent them flying into her legs, causing her to kneel before me as pain rippled through her calves.
"Vanish with the rest of Spira!" I screamed, stabbing my sword into Vegnagun and leaping off it.
Surprisingly, Kirin's blitz ball had appeared above me, aiding my overdrive as she had in the past. 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 stalked 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 one threw herself over Yuna, "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. This 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 shatter into jagged shards. That look she was giving me… That's Lenne's look… It was how she had looked at me when she was afraid.
'I don't want Lenne to fear me… I…'
Gunshots! I was reliving my death again… Wait…
'No, that bullet was real.'
I looked back at Kirin and saw Yuna, the barrel of her gun fuming with 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 wasn't Kirin anymore. She was… 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, burning with rage at my weakness. I'd failed my friends again… I failed Lenne again…
A bright light shined off in the corner of my eye. I turned towards it and saw my love, encircled by a brilliant yellow aura, the same as that of our 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. At first, I struggled to get her away. But then… I knew that touch…
"Lenne…" It really was her.
"Finally…" She whispered, her voice as soft and silky as I remembered it.
"Yea… It took a thousand years for this to happen." I muttered, my voice cracking from overwhelming joy, tears flooding my eyes.
"As long as we're together, it's enough for me. I want you to know that you've touched me deeply." She cooed, 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. Looking back at our mistakes won't do us any good. Stop lingering on in 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 continued 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…