Chapter 53 – As Light Bleeds to Dusk
In every story, there comes a time when all must be finish. And, just as in every other story, this is the end. However, sometimes there can be multiple endings. When I first conceived this story nearly a year ago, I came up with a reasonably acceptable end. But, during the course of writing it, I created another ending. It, too, was acceptable, but not anywhere near pleasant. They were equal with merit, but only one could I stomach.
So I've decided to present both endings to you. Whether it will be sad or happy, tragic or triumphant, only one end can reign. This chapter, as well as the next, will be the end. However, which end is the true ending is something I'll leave up to you.
P.S. - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Guys!
From above, Shuyin stared down at the girls – especially Yuna. But to him, he only saw his love. Even a thousand years could not wipe from his memory Lenne. She was engraved into his mind; she was an image he would never let go of. His eyes were frigid, fixated in one narrow path. Yet deep within his gaze was a sense of overwhelming fear. He was afraid of what lay deep within Yuna. She could see this, and she realized why he was afraid. His regret, perhaps, of what he had done for the last ten centuries had collected itself within him. He was ashamed to face her, knowing she would never have approved of what he had done.
A glow began to sparkle around Yuna. She, as well as Rikku and Paine, found herself fitted in her songstress dress. A halo of blue engulfed the pyreflies dancing around her. The sound of a crystalline sparkle rang in their ears. This was the power of the Farplane, the fantasy land of the dead, at its peak. Yuna felt dizzy, her sight and mind became hazed. Shaking her head, she reopened her eyes only to see Shuyin staring right in front of her. She could almost reach out and touch him. Taken aghast, she step backwards, gasping at his sudden appearance before her.
He followed by stepping forward, closing the small distance between them. Paine stammered to attack him, but was stopped by her own force. She braced herself to guard Yuna if necessary, but Shuyin made no attempt to attack her. Instead, his eyes showed nothing but infatuation. He raised his hand to touch Yuna's cheek. Even though he held a menacing expression just moments before, he now was docile. He smiled at her.
"Shuyin..." spoke Yuna, as well as a voice from inside.
"Lenne? Is that truly you my love?"
Yuna bowed her head, her cheeks flush, "T-there's something...something I must tell you."
She squeezed her hands together firmly. The tears formed in her eyes. Not hers, but Lenne's. Just as she had before, she felt Lenne's soul enrapture her own. They became one in all forms of consciousness. Finally, after all this time, she had access to all of Lenne's self – her feelings, her emotions, her heart.
Just as that which was buried in Shuyin's eyes, she felt the same feelings of guilt, remorse, and disappointment. Her heart was broken in dismay by Shuyin's horrid actions. And she knew, from the start, that all of this had occurred. How many hundreds of years did she live with this, Yuna couldn't tell. She understood one thing, Lenne still forgave him. As wretched a creature as he became, she still forgave his sins. These were the words Shuyin wanted to hear, but knew he didn't deserve. It was the split between their two hearts, bleeding a thousand years of pain.
"I...I am grateful for you, Shuyin." Yuna finally continued, the long pause rattling her nerves to the brink, "You came for me...even at the end. You stayed with me, and you loved me..."
"What does it matter!" he screamed suddenly, backing violently away from her, "I couldn't save you! Dammit Lenne, that's all I wanted to do...and I couldn't do it..."
She spoke again, even as the tears poured from both their eyes, "I...I know. But to do this...it wasn't right."
"I-I know...but what else could I do? As I wandered, I had nothing else to me...but you."
"Please, stop grieving now. You're not alone. We can...rest – together."
His eyes glowed, large and ready to fade from existence. He lifted up in the air, and left Baralai's body. Paine ran over to take him away. Walking over to Yuna, he extended his hand, ready to embrace his lover. But it was not Lenne that he saw. Coming to his senses, he choked as he saw Yuna, and not Lenne, standing in front of him.
"No...you are not Lenne!"
Yuna stretched out with her hand, "Wait! Shuyin!"
He roared, "Get away from me! You...you aren't Lenne! Damn you for trying to trick me! How could have I..."
His teeth clenched together. His face wrinkled with anger and rage. Lashing out, he bellowed at Yuna. During his fit, he had climbed up on the face of Vegnagun. He drew out a blitzball, one laden with spikes.
"I will let no one ever get in my way! I will destroy Spira!"
With a fierce kick, he launched the ball at Yuna. She spun to avoid its bounce off the ground, leaving a group of puncture marks in the dirt. Paine drew her sword. Rikku threw a blue grenade his way, exploding above him. The burst of water caused him to slip off and fall to the ground. When he got up, his eyes burned with a maddening fury.
Leaving his ball behind, he darted towards the girls. Paine, attempting to get in his path, was slide kicked. His velocity matched his tyranny. From the slide he stood up immediately, even before Paine had hit the ground. Rikku was next in his way, but dismissed with ease. He took her by the arm, and hung her in the air before she realized what was happening. With a fist, he punched her twice in the mouth. He had no more consideration for anything.
Dropping her senselessly to the ground, he shot his eyes to Yuna. She was standing there, her gun pointed at him. An equal fire of emotion swelled within her. This was her last stand, and she wasn't about to back down.
"You imposture! Why would you try to trick me?" he yelled in accusation.
She sighed, closing her eyes, "Don't you understand? Can't you feel the pain in your own soul? Has the centuries left you numb..."
"Numb? How could I ever be numb?" he raged, swinging his fist in the air wildly, "I've felt suffering and loss longer than anyone alive!"
"But is that all you feel? I saw it in your eyes..."
"Saw? Saw what?"
"The guilt. It burns behind your anger."
"What do you know? How could you possibly comprehend what it is to feel pain? What it's like to wallow in the anguish of knowing your love is dead and gone from you forever?"
"More than you know." she stated firmly, a position which surprised Shuyin, "You see...I, too, have lost my love...two years ago. While two years may seem like nothing to your millennium...to me...it has felt like an eternity. And...I as well will never have him back..."
"Then you should know why I've done what..."
"No I can't!" she shouted above him, "Don't you realize...all the pain you've caused for others?"
"What do I care? They deserve it, they deserve to feel what I have felt."
"You're wrong..."
"Then we will see."
Without another word, Shuyin climbed back to the top of Vegnagun. Standing at the organ, he began playing a contorted melody – one of suffering and condemnation. It pierced the air, and shivered Yuna. By now, Paine had gotten back up, herself recovered from the tackle. Rikku was still on the ground, woozy and bleeding from the nose. Paine hobbled over to help her. They watched and listened to the requiem he was playing.
From within the pits of Vegnagun transformed its weapon, that which would destroy all. It formed an enormous cannon, one so large that it seemed to stretch to the edge of the Farplane. It even dwarfed Vegnagun itself. Shuyin cackled insanely.
"Spira deserves no less than to drown in its own destruction. It sought this monster, and now it will reap what it has sown."
A bright charge of light gathered and swirled around the cannon. The girls had no idea what potential of devastation it could do, and they didn't want to find out. In a daring move, Yuna started to climb up on the barrel, her eyes locked onto Shuyin. He was still playing the keys of his organ, his fingers darting chaotically. The chords of sorrow only furthered the charge.
"I will show Spira the power of the demise they created!"
Yuna clung desperately to the cannon, its vibrations causing her body to shutter. She felt her nerves go numb. Crawling with all her strength, she focused to reach Shuyin. Seeping from her veins was the desire to save him from his own insanity. The love and loss he felt had exploded into a fit of raw chaos. The charge now sparked out of the end of the cannon; it was about to fire. Shuyin let out one last, horrifying laugh. Yuna had almost reached him, but she knew she would be too late.
In a last attempt to save their souls, she pulled out her pistol, whispering to herself, "If only...if only you were here..."
Firing a barrage of shots, she blasted the organ with her bullets. Screaming at her, Shuyin began hammering at the keys again, seeing that the cannon was malfunctioning. Bolts of electricity raged from it and the cannon. The shocks sent Shuyin falling backwards, his hands charred. Yuna tried to climb over to him, but she was caught up in what ensued.
The cannon raged, and the melody died. Firing its charge, a beam of energy streaked across the sky of the Farplane, lighting up the dreary cloud above it. The cannon, and most of Vegnagun itself, was disintegrated in the spectacular blast. Yuna had ruptured the controls, and sent it spiraling out of control. Everything in the area was vaporized. The blast, sent heralding to Spira, crashed into the Calm Lands.
In an instant, the once peaceful plain was now a molten wasteland. Everything was gone. Ripped from the ground, the chocobo, the people – they were all annihilated. In the flicker of a flame, a portion of Spira suffered under an instant cataclysm.
In the Farplane, underneath the remnants of Vegnagun, were Rikku and Paine. Buried by the rubble, they had been far enough outside the blast radius to survive. Yet they were badly burned. The smell of death choked them as they rose from the ash and soot. The charred air crackled with the burnt out flames of the former machine. Rikku, hobbling to her feet, started searching for her cousin.
"Y-Yunie..."
Her eyes darted around, wondering if she was alright. Just moments before, she had seen her on top of the cannon. She saw the expression of desperation ridden on her face. Now, the place where she was just at, was a crater in the ground. Paine, who was ahead of her, began moving the rubble. They frantically searched for her. For hours, they anxiously explored for her. But, it was no use. This time, Yuna was dead, and there was no coming back.
When the girls realized this, they went into an unfathomable shock. Even though it seemed like a short time, Leblanc, as well as Nooj and Gippal, came back for them a day later. In the scattered debris, Rikku kept digging, even when Gippal tried to pull her from it. She shouted out violently, throwing herself around madly. Again, she had lost her cousin, her beloved friend. Again, she was without Yuna.
She had saved Spira, at least most of it. When they had arrived back to Spira, out from the treacherous reaches of the Farplane, they knew their long, staining mission was accomplished. But it was far from sweet – but more wretched than bittersweet. Aboard the Celsius, it was dark – not in the sense of light, but in the sense of life. It seemed more real this time, that Yuna was gone. How were they going to bury her again? What were they going to tell Spira? What would they tell Lulu? It had only been recently did they take down her grave in Bevelle, and now they would have to put it up again.
When they arrived on Besaid, they were greeted by a host of islanders. At the forefront, was Wakka and Lulu. In her arms, she held her child. As they would learn from the overexcited father, he was born only hours after they left. Rikku and Paine, who were noticeably wrecked, didn't know what to say. Finally, once Lulu knew something was amiss when she didn't see Yuna, Paine stepped forward.
"Lulu...she's dead."
It was concise, but it was all that needed to be said. Lulu nearly fainted, her eyes instantly flooding with tears. Wakka grabbed his tiny infant as she fell to the ground. On the tip of her tongue were all the things she was patiently waiting to tell Yuna about her son. Those thoughts were squashed under just three words. It took her hours to settle down. In the meantime, Rikku and Paine explained to Wakka and the other islands what had happened. For the last time, she had given herself to the safety of Spira. It's wellbeing was secured, but not until she endured the ultimate sacrifice.
While everyone was strung out, a voice whispered in Rikku's ear. She recognized it as the Fayth, Bahamut. He was frantic. Rumbling to her, he told Rikku to run down to the beach. While she herself was unable to think clearly, she managed to force herself down to the ocean. For a few minutes, she stood there, wondering why he had ordered her there. Then, out in the ocean, she saw a figure swimming up to the shore. Beyond any beliefs she ever held, she couldn't imagine what she saw was possible.
It was Tidus, swimming onto the sand of the beach. He stood up, glistening in the sunlight. Looking at Rikku, he waved to her and smiled. She now realized why the Fayth was so disturbed. In his good faith act, he had committed a horrible atrocity.
Walking up to her, he gave her a hug. While she needed the embrace so desperately, she couldn't bear to be held in the arms by Yuna's love. Pushing him back, she burst into tears. Hammering his chest with her fists, she cried uncontrollably. Just fresh out of the water, he hardly had time to understand his own self, let alone why Rikku was balling.
The shock spread as he reached the village. Like a ghost haunting the living, the islanders looked upon him in horror. They wondered if he had replaced their summoner - one in life, and one in the Farplane. His eyes bent with tension as he saw the distraught gazed cast onto him. While barely born anew, he understood that something pained them deeply. But further than that, he thought to where his love was. Where was Yuna?
He half-barged into Wakka and Lulu's hovel. To his surprise, he found that they were crying with the same intensity as Rikku. Lulu was buried deep within Wakka's chest. Standing beside them was a girl he'd never seen, also sobbing. It was as if he stepped out of the Farplane and into a hell that wasn't supposed to exist. Wakka's face turned pale at his sight. When Lulu, squinting out of her watery eyes, saw him, she gasped.
Rikku sat him down, for a long, painful talk. He was reborn, but reincarnated into a world without Yuna. The cruelty had only begun to seep in as he explained what had happened to him. The Fayth had gathered their powers to renew him. It was Yuna's request – a gift they wished to present to her. Against all odds, they succeeded. But they had not realized Yuna had been turned to ash as they completed the process. Somewhere, in the ethereal spaces that existed between life and death, they had passed – unbeknownst to each other.
Days later, he watched on as they again laid her casket into the ground. On top, was the same elegant burial marker, a symbol of her dedication to Spira, and their dedication to her. For the second, and last time, she had saved them – all of them. Except those unfortunate souls who were in the Calm Lands. As reports of the devastation spread throughout Spira, those who died also became known. This was further realized when they did not attend Yuna's mass.
One of them was the venerable Maechen. A few locals in Bevelle had said he had went their to study, just as he always had done. Another person lost was Elma, one of the former guards of the Crusaders, and a member of the Youth League. She had been visiting Clasko, who was also dead. Although saddening, he did die with his chocobo, not that this made it any better to stomach.
The hardest one for Spira to cope with, aside from Yuna, was Rin. He had bought some chocobo from Clasko to take back to Mi'hen as part of his initiative to revitalize their population. While nobody knew except those now dead, he had planned to ask Nhadala to marry him the next day. She was at his agency in Mi'hen, awaiting for him to come back. Invited there personally by him, she did not, and never found out, why he sought for her to come. Even though, deep within her own heart, she recounted how much she felt about him, and he of her. Nevertheless, there was no longer any need to know.
This funeral was as much for them as it was for Yuna. Through the tragedy, the citizens of Spira looked for some good. They found none. Although they were safe, as Yuna had banished Sin and Shuyin, they realized how pitiful they were. They had relied on a little girl to teach them – to save them. And while she was much more than just a little girl, the point still stung.
The Youth League and New Yevon quickly came to terms with their disagreements with Baralai and Nooj back at the helms. They made sure all of their followers knew exactly how much Yuna had done for them. In song and through battle, she had altered Spira more so than any other force had in its tormented history.
On the top of Mount Gagazet, in their way of tributing her, the Ronso erected a statue of Yuna. With the wispy clouds hovering above it, it signified her strength in a way that any Spiran could understand. It, of course, was no replacement for the real thing. The emptiness of its stony figure was felt in Kimahri's heart. While it anguished him everyday for the rest of his life, looking up to the statue made him a stronger leader. Until his death, he gathered his power to lead the Ronso from her spirit. And strength he had, as the Ronso flourish, eventually making peace with the Guado, just as Yuna would have wanted.
Many other things still remained the same. Luca was still a bustling center of trade and blitzball. Yuna became the Auroch's symbol just as much as their logo. They went on to win the championship for the next three years in a row.
The Guado, while making peace with the Ronso, never left Macalania. Although it was a dank and desireless home, they sheltered themselves in the ruins of the forest. From there, the Guado's existence was a quaint one. Quietly they lived by themselves, away from the forefront of Spiran life.
Nhadala eventually left Bikanel to run Rin's Travel Agency. Due to her ingenuity, which was what probably attracted Rin to her the most, she expanded upon his Sphere Break game. It became widely successful. She never did forget her idiotic coworkers, Gadrock and Rhala, and the adventures in the desert sand.
Leblanc continued her syndicate of sphere hunting. She even hooked up with Nooj, although the Youth League members never did take kindly to her. Next to his portrait on the wall of her room in Guadosalam was a picture of Yuna. While the Dullwings were her stiffest competition, she could admire Yuna just as much as anyone else in Spira. Into her old age, she, Logos, and Ormi told the stories of her selfless heroics in the Farplane.
Needless to say, the place which took the longest to recover was Besaid. While the Aurochs success brought some relief, it was a bleak place for long after that day. Lulu was never the same. Vidina never had the godmother she had wanted him to have. Still, she cherished her child with both her love for him and for Yuna. He eventually grew up to be a star blitzball player, just like his old man. However, just like Tidus, he lost his father young. On his way back from Luca before Vidina's tenth birthday, his ship crashed and sank, with him dying at sea.
Rikku and Tidus watched as the waves crashed against the sand. The sun was setting, and the beautiful colors of dusk bled across the sky. There was not a cloud hanging above them. But neither one of them could enjoy the sunset. Without that which was most precious, one cannot enjoy anything. At least to them, that was how it seemed their life had become.
"So...what will you do now?" she asked Tidus, as she moved the sand with her foot.
He sighed, deeply and painfully, "I don't know. Where is there for a lonely soul to go..."
Not another word was spoken between them. It was the last sunset either one of them spent on the island. The next morning, the two of them left. While on the same day, and because of the same reasons, they did not leave together. Although she wanted to ask Paine, she knew Besaid was where she wanted to stay. As she had promised herself before, Paine settled down in Besaid. She never found someone to be with, but she didn't need anyone. Happily she settled down, playing with the children and sowing quilts together. But, at least to her, more importantly, she told children and travelers of the woman who changed her life.
Rikku ventured off to places unknown. For a year she traveled around the lands of Spira, even to the charred remains of the Calm Lands. Eventually she ended up in Djose, and married Gippal. They, along with his Machine Faction, left for Bikanel, where she lived out most of the rest of her life. She only returned once to Besaid, for Wakka's funeral. She kept her distance from any place where she could remember Yuna. It was said by Gippal after she died, that she always carried a small sphere of Yuna when she was a child to remind herself of how special she was to her.
When Tidus left Besaid, he was never heard from nor seen from again. After the years had faded by, it became lore that he again turned into a spirit. Some say he went to Zanarkand to die again, and fly back to his love. Others say that he roamed Spira, searching for a way to bring her back into the world.
Such was the world that Spira became. Like the tragedy that occurred a thousand years before, Yuna was torn from her love, and destined never to have him back. Tidus and Yuna, just as Shuyin and Lenne, could never realize their passion. But if one hopeful thing resulted from their twisted fate, it was that Spira would never again be plagued by its spiral of death and despair. Yuna had accomplished what no summoner could ever have. If only she could have experienced it herself, she surely would have smiled.
The End
There is, of course, no "next chapter." However, as I said before, there is another path for fate to travel. If you accept this as the end, then you need not read any farther. But if you believe that Yuna's love deserves more, then hold out for just a little longer. Come January 3rd, I'll put up the other last chapter. Until then, happy holidays!
