The Summoner and the Guardian

What if everything that happened to me was a dream and I was the only thing that was real?

Rikku had spent the time trying to construct a new CommSphere. Her materials were very limited and she didn't have Shinra's skills to successfully make one out of raw elements, but she was desperate. She had to contact the ship Gippal and Rin left on and rescue her cousin. Lulu was trying to remain calm under the sheer stress of the situation, while also worrying about Wakka trespassing through the flat plains on his own. Both females had their thoughts interrupted when they heard the sound of someone walking straight into a couple of noisy objects near the back of the pitch black Inn.

At the same time, Wakka was wading through knee-high blades of grass and puddles of muddy water. It felt as though the blades were hugging his legs and keeping him from walking any faster. He draped his arm across his forehead and tried to block the raindrops from getting in his eyes. He shined the Light Sphere ahead of him and clutched his World Champion to his chest. All pestering thoughts and assumptions were thrown out of his mind just so he could focus on bringing Gaia safely back to the rest of the crew. However, when he did, the first thing he would ask her was about this sender and why he caused this turn of events because he wanted to see Gaia. He paused for a second because when he casted the Light Sphere in front of him, he could see the outline of a trembling figure ahead.

"Am I really that dense?" Tidus asked the fayth.

"No." The fayth replied, although Tidus didn't believe her. He felt so arrogant because he figured he was holding himself up to such a high state that he couldn't possibly be like the others.

"What would've happened if Yuna told me the truth?"

"You wouldn't have existed for as long as you did."

Tidus flopped against the floor, staring up at the ceiling.

"So… in other words, I am still a dream?" he concluded. "It's just that, instead of being conjured by the fayth, I was brought up by Yuna. I was brought up by a summoner, and one with a lot of power, apparently. And… I bet all of this really is my fault…"

"You're a consequence of the situation, not a cause. You weren't brought to the real world out of your own free will."

"But you could say the same about the first time I came to Spira. Even if I didn't choose to be there, I still was responsible for fixing Spira's problems."

"Not on your own."

"Right… I had Yuna's help. And everyone else's. Wait… Yuna! She was captured by Yu Yevon, wasn't she?"

The fayth shook her head.

"No? Well… if it's not Yu Yevon, then who…?"

He noticed the room became dark and somewhat unsettling. The fayth's demeanor changed from solemn to completely aggravated. She looked as if she was recalling some painful memories.

"He is another Lost Soul roaming in a place in which he does not belong," she continued, levitating with her legs crossed and her hair traveling all over the place. "His name is… his name was Onryo."

"Hold it right there!" Rikku yelled.

She was shouting at Eiren who managed to sneak into the Inn, but it was too dark for him to navigate around the cluttered area. Rikku created another Light Sphere in less than a minute and saw him trying to escape through the exit. Lulu didn't even have to look behind her as she planted an enormous icicle in front of his path.

"Leave me alone!" Eiren yelled, heading for the window.

Lulu shocked him with a minor thunder spell.

"I… just wanted… to see her…" he mumbled as his weakened body slumped against the wall.

Rikku took some rope she often carried with her from her bag and bound his wrists together. She sat his twitching body in the middle of the room and placed the Light Sphere in front of him.

"W-what's going on?" he asked.

"We'll be asking the questions here." Lulu said.

"Watch the exit, Kurgum," Chuami said as she joined the interrogation. In the time she'd been a sender, she often thought of him as somewhat closed off and solitary, but not a powerful, apocalypse-bringing sociopath.

"Who are you?" Lulu asked.

"I… my name is Eiren and I'm a sender for the Council. I always have been."

"Liar!" Rikku said.

"Why don't you try confirming that with the other two people that are involved with the Council?"

Chuami sat down on her knees in front of him. "Just because you have worked as a sender with us doesn't mean you don't have any underlying secrets."

"I… I don't!"

"Remember that thunder spell?" Rikku said. "Well this is a super skilled black mage and she's got more where that came from. Now spill the beans!"

Eiren hung his head. "I guess I have no choice."

The storm was starting to die down as he spoke.

"I'm sure you all are more than aware of the break in the barrier between the Farplane and Spira. Spirits are roaming around the real world without a true place, and reuniting with people they've lost. That is no mystery."

"We've noticed." Chuami said.

"I'd been awakened and was a sender for Bevelle not too long before it started happening. When I heard about the overflow of pyrefly energy at the Moonflow, I decided to investigate."

"On your own?" Chuami asked.

"Please, that young fellow over there is the only one that requires any permission to analyze a problem without assistance."

"Go on." Lulu said.

"I heard that relatives were being 'beckoned' back into the world by sorrowful hearts and longing relatives. I am guilty of being in the same category of those people, and I went to see if I could reconcile with someone dearly close to me."

His tone of voice shifted and he sounded much more melodramatic than before.

"I sat in front of the banks of the Moonflow, observing the dancing balls of light and the sound of the illusions around me. How peculiar it was that they spoke when conjurations of memories in the Farplane do not. I prayed to the fayth, to anyone, to see her again. I wanted to repent for years of my stupidity and my pride. Something appeared before me, but it wasn't the one I was looking for."

"What was it?" Rikku asked.

"I don't rightly know," he claimed. "It was a cluster of black smoke and red flames outlining it. I know I didn't create this thing, and I had it in me to flee, but then… it started speaking to me. It spoke in the most demonic way possible, and before I could walk any further, it told me the words it knew I wanted to hear."

"It knew what you wanted." Lulu said.

"It said it knew what I desires most, and if I did its bidding, the thing I wanted would be mine. I… I didn't think it meant any of these tragic things that have happened when it said that… I knew better than to take its offer, but… at that moment, all I could think of was how sorry I was for how I treated her… I was an idiot, I was unfair, and I let her get away and then her life ended shortly after because of Sin… her death was my doing! I had to fix the broken relationship between us, I needed to tell her how sorry I was… I needed to fix the image she had of me… but before I could do anything… the monster grabbed ahold of my body and held me against my will. I couldn't escape its grasp, and I was overwhelmed with anger and vengeance…"

"Vengeance about what?" Lulu asked.

"To stop Sin, to kill Sin, to free everyone that'd been absorbed by Sin, free everyone that'd given their lives to become the Final Aeon. Those weren't my own thoughts. They were his. And… it wasn't even worth it because she… didn't even want to see me… I don't blame her."

"Who is 'she'?" Lulu asked.

Eiren lowered his gaze and exhaled sharply. "My daughter…"

"How did Onryo escape the Farplane?" Tidus asked.

"The break between the ethereal and corporeal realm," the fayth replied. "It began when you set foot on Spira the second time."

"Was he also beckoned back?"

"No, but the break allowed for him to cross. He didn't appear in the real world as a person like the other spirits had, nor was he a fiend. He was literally a manifestation of his hatred and thirst for revenge."

"Against Sin?"

She nodded. "Long ago, when the concept of Sin and the religion of Yevon was in its infancy, he was a young boy that lived within the streets of Bevelle."

The pyreflies around them morphed into the dark silhouette of a small child.

"He was driven at an early age to defeat Sin by the loss of his only family members. He'd spend many years from then on training to become a summoner. He fought monstrous fiends, he looked up to many summoners, he took the advice from wise scholars and many priests. Then, he met his only guardian, Yokai."

The silhouette changed to an older male and what Tidus assumed to be a female silhouette appeared beside the man.

"The pilgrimage went well, and Yokai was doing everything in her power to protect her summoner. They'd formed an unbreakable bond together that couldn't be severed by the sharpest of knives. They had fallen deeply in love, but unfortunately, it wasn't to last."

Tidus was completely aware how this story would end.

"They went to Zanarkand… and learned the truth." He said.

The fayth looked sad for a second.

"But… Yuna told us that this man… he wasn't about destroying Sin anymore. He wanted to use the summoner's powers for creating these crazy things, like fiends and horrifying aeons. What did he mean by…?"

"His guardian desperately tried to convince him to continue on, to choose her as his fayth and to finish the suffering once and for all. He believed that what she was saying was true, and Sin was defeated."

The scenario changed to the silhouette of the man being by himself.

"He remained on Spira, not having accepted the fact that he had to be sent, and she did not."

"Because she was Sin?"

"Yes, and thus he stayed in the real world, vowing to save her from Sin's clutches. He wanted to bring her back into his life, and he believed that the only thing that would allow him to do so was beckoning."

Wakka was careful as he walked closer to the woman. He flashed the light at her body and he could see fresh marks on the back of her legs and her arms. He called out to her quietly as not to startle her, but she didn't respond to him.

"Are… you okay?"

Nothing but silence.

"You should… come back with us. It's not safe out here…"

"I can't," she finally said.

"Why not?"

Once again, it was quiet.

"Come on, I'm not gonna let you stay here and get hurt by those fiends. They're everywhere around here and you could…"

She turned around and he could see that it was too late. Her eyes were white, her fangs were sharp, her hands were claws. He dropped his ball and the Sphere and stood back.

"Woah… hey…"

She didn't hesitate and struck him with one of her sharp claws. It wasn't enough to knock him down but he saw that his forearm had three deep streaks, and they hurt tremendously. He looked up at her and saw something he hadn't with any of her kind. She was back to her normal human self when she'd realized what she'd done and her hands were clasped over her mouth. Her eyes watered up and before he could stop her, she ran into the darkness.

"Wait, you mean beckoning used to be an everyday thing? Like anyone could do it like they can now?" Tidus asked.

"Not quite," the fayth replied. "Beckoning someone back from the depths of the Farplane requires a deep connection between beckoned and beckoner. It could be one between lovers, parent and child, extremely strong friendships. The illusions you see on the Moonflow aren't exactly beckons. They are a creation of the thoughts of the living."

"Just like in the Farplane at Guadosalam."

"Yes, but now the Farplane is out of its containment, and those illusions have the opportunity to walk that world and become exposed to similar feelings that the living experience."

"And they become fiends for the same reason?"

"Not all of them."

"What are the other reasons?"

"Have you felt the need to repent for something you've done, or said to somebody else?"

"Well, yeah, lots of times."

"Enough for you to want to repeat that moment when you said or did that regrettable thing?"

"Yes."

"You see, the beckoned are a composition of individual souls. Ones that have thoughts and feelings, and they aren't in a place where they belong when they escape the confines of the Farplane. Because of that, those souls become angry at the beckoner for wanting to repent for their sins by bringing those pyreflies out from their eternal rest, hence why the illusions and the beckoned become fiends."

"Why are the fiends still half-human?"

"Because the beckoned still have their own conscious away from their pyreflies. They don't want to become fiends, but the pyreflies are stronger-willed."

"Do they remember who they are when they become fiends?"

"They can."

"Then that means they can control it like how normal unsent people can control it, right?"

"It requires a certain action in order for the beckoned to completely take control of this transformation."

"And that is?"

"The beckoned and the beckoner must come to an understanding of the other's suffering, and both must overcome their conflicts."

Tidus sat down and furrowed his brow. "So… that's why I didn't become a fiend? Because Yuna and I didn't have those problems?"

"Yes, and you don't fault the living for being alive."

"Why didn't Onryo just accept that Yokai was Sin and he couldn't bring her back?"

"Because while he was desperately trying, he stumbled upon another feature of the summoner's power. He unintentionally conjured something he shouldn't have. A monster."

The silhouette was accompanied by shadows of different fiend-like creatures.

"He utilized the power to create stronger and stronger fiends, and that's when he suddenly realized that he could avenge everybody, he could free everyone that was captured, absorbed, and taken by Sin, if he created a creature strong enough to defeat Sin the next time it appeared."

"But… you guys stripped that power from him, right?"

"Yes. You see, this power, creating inanimate objects and powerful beings out of the air, it stresses the hearts of the aeons. It's quite harmful to us. And so, the power was taken from him. He sought out to find other methods of gaining this power, and that's when he discovered the Soul Machina."

"Why was it there in the first place?"

"During the Machina War, Bevelle was interested in using the power within Zanarkand's summoners against them. This machine was created to absorb the energy from them and give it to a host that would be able to use it. It was completed, but the machine and the project was abandoned when Bevelle was destroyed by the very first Sin."

"Was that machine also destroyed then?"

"Only slightly, but those that created it kept in mind to keep it hidden deep underground, in order to prevent any harm to come to it."

"What happened next?"

"During Onryo's time, machina was forbidden, and he promised amnesty and freedom for several Al Bhed workers that were kept underneath Bevelle to rebuild its machina parts. Only if they were to do as he asked. They reconstructed that machine, but as the time went by, Onryo started losing control of himself and he was becoming more fiendish with each passing day. His anger towards Sin, his hatred for Yu Yevon, was driving him towards becoming as monstrous as his creation. When the machina was finally finished, Bevelle had become aware of his treason. They tried to capture him, but before they could lay the slightest amount of damage, he fully transformed into a fiend."

The silhouette turned into a bird-like creature.

Tidus got up and walked to the mural of Shiva against the wall.

"What happened to him?"

"He was eventually killed and sent to the Farplane, where his form became nothing but pure hatred. He lingered there, wanting nothing but to be reunited with the one he'd lost for many, many years. Until…"

Tidus traced his fingers along the painting as he thought about what she'd told him. At first, it was strange to him that he didn't immediately think of Onryo as being nothing but insane for everything he'd done, but the more Tidus thought about it, the more he was feeling the smallest amount of sympathy for the spirit. Tidus wouldn't want to live with himself if he let Yuna go and give her life to bring Spira the Calm. He'd have done anything to keep her alive, and was more than relieved when she learned that the Final Summoning was a false tradition and made it her own decision to defeat Sin without the Final Aeon. This spirit didn't have a choice, nor did he have the knowledge of how terrible the tradition was. Tidus turned around and looked at the fayth.

"Was there ever a way to truly defeat Sin?"

"Your defeat of Yu Yevon."

"What? Then why did Sin come back? Was it the hole in the Farplane? Did… did someone beckon it back?"

"It was a multitude of reasons."

"What do you mean?"

The fayth traveled forward and disappeared through the exit of her chamber. Tidus followed and walked through Seymour's body and over to where the fayth was standing above the tall stairs.

"Take a look at these poor souls."

Tidus's eyes wandered around. The living relatives were still sobbing while sitting on the cold, hard floors and the spirits were still helplessly sitting beside them.

"Tell me, what do these people have in common with each other?"

"Uh… pyreflies?"

"Think harder."

"Sin?"

"Sin is a part of it."

Tidus scratched the back of his head. "I don't… know."

"Memories."

"Oh…"

The fayth's voice carried throughout the entire temple.

"Everyone that has been involved with the Beckoning did so because they were clutching all the moments, all the memories, they had with each other. Not only that, but they wished very badly for the fayth, and Yevon's religion, to return and the temples to be reestablished. But, what they hadn't realized, is that with the existence of the fayth, Yevon's religion, and yourself, also brings the existence of Sin. And so, their attachment to their memories of the past and things that once were had brought upon the resurrection of a powerful terror."

Tidus was about to argue that not everyone in Spira was clinging to something that once was, but he realized that it wasn't true at all. Yuna had gone on an entire adventure with the Gullwings because she wanted to be reunited with a lost love. Eiren claimed that everything he did was because he wanted to see Gaia, and even Tidus, himself, was a participant in this chain of events. He'd experienced a certain longing for things between him and Yuna to return to the way they once were during her pilgrimage, and he wanted to return to the time when he was as much of an expert at playing blitzball as he was in Zanarkand. It may not have seemed like much compared to the wishes of many beckoners, but it was still a desire to live in the past.

The fayth returned to her room and Tidus followed.

"I get what you're saying," he began. "We're all guilty of bringing Sin back, and we may be the reason Spira doesn't live in peace. My existence… it comes with a price, as does many deceased loved ones. I can accept that. What I can't accept is that Spira's future can only mean more of this!"

He gestured towards the outside of the chamber.

"We can't live in the past, because living in it just isn't living at all. We can't live our lives looking forward to nothing but the far future. I think it's time that we start living in the now. I think everyone in Spira should embrace the lives they've got in this present day and find a new happiness! Instead of trying to find it in the past."

The fayth's eyes lightened when he spoke.

"But… I can't help them do that if I stay here. I have to go back to Spira. I have to save Yuna and help her fix the mess that's happening right now."

The fayth smiled and waved her arms around. Strong winds gathered from every corner of the chamber and were powerful enough to send Tidus to the ground. They gathered into a circle within the fayth's hands and came to an abrupt stop.

"Take this." She told him. He pulled himself off the floor and carefully took the ball.

"What is it?"

"The winds of the Farplane. Let them guide you back into the real world. Those that have a strong will shall find exactly where it is they wish to go. Those without will find themselves lost in a place where they had no intention of going."

"You're not coming back?"

"We are too weak to leave the Farplane, and while we remain here, our energy protects the temples in the real world. They have become safe havens for the living and we intend to keep it that way."

"How do I stop that bird?"

A glowing aura was forming around the fayth. "Look for the heart of broken memories. Yuna must see you, and once she does, Onryo's hold on her will falter. She may have a strong will, but the fact that she was torn between keeping you safe and Spira's security weakened her mind."

A bright light forced him to squint his eyes and once it stopped, he could see Shiva right in front of him. Tears flew down her cheeks.

"You must hurry! We are losing more of our strength as that horrible creation lingers."

Tidus nodded. "I won't let you down…"

Tidus held the Farplane winds right in front of him as he exited the temple. The spirits all looked at him as he left. They made it seem as though he was the Chosen One, or someone of great importance. The fayth did turn to him for his help, and he nodded to them as to tell them that he and his friends would restore the balance in Spira and save everyone.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Auron asked.

"More than that," Tidus replied. "I've gotta go back, and you should too."

"Why would I do such a thing?"

"Don't you want to see Chuami?"

"I can't."

"Why can't you?"

"As I told you many times before, dwelling in the past is futile."

"This isn't 'dwelling in the past', Auron. This is your daughter. This is someone you never got to see grow up, and someone you never got to share your legacy with. Don't you want a chance to do that before you can't?"

Auron thought about his statement for a second, but Tidus was too impatient for that.

"Too late!" he said and he let go of the Farplane winds and they enveloped the two in a swarm of bright lights and strange physical feelings as they carried the heroes back to the real world.

"Time's arrow never stands still nor reverses. It merely marches forward." - (Bojack)