Chapter 15: End of Both Worlds

            With Belgermine's death, the Bevellian army slowly marched onwards Zanarkand's camp as they eradicated the remaining summoners in the field.  They finally reached Yunalesca's position.

"Hah! Where're your Aeons now!?" The captain taunted.

"Hmph! How dare you mock us!? It isn't over till it's over!" Yunalesca shouted.

            A tall muscular man, riding on an armored chocobo, appeared behind her. Standing tall with all his glory, his metal-plated armor shimmered as if he was covered with light.  Moving further, he moved in front of Yunalesca to protect her from the invading army.

"Zaon…" Yunalesca whispered.

"Don't worry, my love. I'll take care of these pests." Blankly, Zaon said.

            Zaon is Yunalesca's husband, and at the same time, Yunalesca's faithful guardian. He is a quiet yet principled man who is willing to sacrifice his life for the sake of his wife.  Truly, their strong bond can never be shattered by any form of force.

            Suddenly, the Ronsos, led by Kaan, appeared behind Yunalesca.  They soon assumed position in front and blocked the passage to the camp. 

"What the--!? Back-up!? No matter, we'll crush you into ashes."

"How arrogant… Arrogance can shake a coward's soul, but it can never shake a true warrior's." Zaon replied.

            Taking out one of his curved blade, a scimitar, on his right hilt, he pointed at the army and ordered to charge.  The Ronsos began to launch an assault against the gargantuan army.  Their spears pierced into the front machinas and both armies, once more, merged into another great battle field.  A bullet hit Zaon's chocobo and both bodies fell on the ground.  Zaon jumped to stand in a graceful move.  He soon took out his other blade from his left hilt.  With two blades at his disposal, he slaughtered numerous machinas and soldiers.  Swing after swing, a body fell down on the ground as blood surged all over it.  Zaon was invincible; it was as if bullets did not harm him and bayonets did not penetrate his shining armor. He, himself, was like an Aeon. 

            The Ronsos were also doing well in the field; they were skilled warriors.  With their swift moves, they were able to evade countless bullets approaching them and at the same time, counter attacking the enemy's every move.  The slow machinas had no chance against them. 

            The captain suddenly called out a retreat.  Zaon and the Ronso's thought they had won the battle, but suddenly, the army pulled out howitzers, a combat cannon, and aimed it right at them.  Deafening blows were soon heard and heavy spherical objects flew from the sky and hitting the ground with a huge impact.  The ground exploded and some Ronsos, together, with it.  The Ronso's army started to decrease in numbers.

"Do not let their machinas scare you!" Caan shouted.

            The Ronsos, despite their disadvantage, continued to fight.  They were not giving up easily; their pride and honor mattered most to them.  However, despite their determination, the howitzers were too strong for them to handle.  Before they could even reach a decent radius, their bodies were crushed by the cannonballs.  Soon, the Ronsos started to diminish in number…

"Zaon, watch out!" Yunalesca suddenly shouted.

            Zaon looked upwards and saw an incoming cannonball quickly approaching him. Yunalesca gasped.  He attempted to evade the hitting cannonball, but he was still slightly hit on the body.  The impact made him fall to the ground.  Slowly, he started crawling towards Yunalesca as she ran towards him.  When both of them met, Yunalesca held him on her hands, and helped him stand up. 

"Can you still handle them?" Yunalesca asked.

"As long as my body lives, I can. No man deserts the field of battle."

"Then we will die together…"

            Revitalizing his strength, Yunalesca cast a spell on Zaon.  In no time, the warrior, twice as faster than before, galloped towards the cannons.  With his two blades, reaching the canons, he leaped high into the air and continuously slashed each cannon as it exploded with each slash.  As the final canon exploded, he stood still as if posing.  He returned his swords on its sheath and walked away when suddenly, he heard a stab behind him.

"Zaon must watch out… Machinas not finish yet." A familiar Ronso voice said.

            It was Kaan. With his long spear, he pierced a machina who was about to stab Zaon from behind.  Zaon looked behind as he pointed at another approaching army.

"Machinas never end… Battle will not end… Must ask help from Elder Summoner." Kaan advised.

"I will not let them pass… They will have to kill me first." Zaon replied.

"No use wasting life… We lost… Must accept defeat.  Sometimes, it is better to withdraw than act foolishly."

            Zaon thought for a moment, and nodded.  Both of them, together with Yunalesca and some surviving Ronsos, headed back to the camp and heed for assistance from the elder summoner. The army just kept on assaulting as if unharmed.  They ran as quickly as possible to escape from the fast approaching army.  Soon, enormous machinas, with gatling guns equipped on both hands and a quill on its shoulders heavily armed with missiles, suddenly appeared as it fired at them. 

"We will die before we reach the camp!" Yunalesca exclaimed.

"Summoner and her guardian head back… We, Ronsos, distract them. We have no choice…" Kaan said.

"Brave Ronsos, you have our deep gratitude. I wish you well…"

Kaan sounded the horn and every Ronso stopped forming a "human shield" as the summoner and her guardian continued running.  They charged against the army. However, they were in small numbers; they did not have the weapon… They were slaughtered mercilessly.  Soon, every Ronso in the battle field died, and their leader was the last one standing.  He grabbed his spear and stabbed himself.

"Ugh… Kaan rather die… By his own blade than be killed… By filthy machinas…"  He breathed one final breath and lay motionless on the ground.

            The army continued to march as they crushed the corpses, lying on the ground, with each thump.  They were gaining on Yunalesca and Zaon at a tremendous speed. 

"We won't reach the camp in time…" Yunalesca thought.

            Yunalesca stopped and summoned a bird from the sky.  It had flaring wings as if it bore the heart of flame.  Its eyes were glowing in a gold radiance as it flew above them.  A phoenix was roaming high above the dark clouded sky.  Before going down, it had screeched.  It bowed its body on the ground as they rode on its back.  It flew once more as it took them to the camp.

            Reaching the camp, they finally went off the Aeon's back as it vanished, and hurriedly went to the Elder Summoner's camp.  Upon entering, Yevon, unalarmed, sitting on the ground, meditating.  It was as if he knew what had happened.  Yunalesca coughed. Yevon opened his eyes and stood up.

"I expected this to happen... I knew it was futile to resist, but what can we do? We are the prey, not them… All we could do was to go with the flow.  We are destined to die…" Yevon explained.

"Then you are saying it's futile…? All this was just a ruse; a diversion that did nothing, but killed almost everyone?" Yunalesca asked in a high toned voice.

"Sigh… I wanted to protect the pride of the summoners… I do not want them to lose in shame… At least, they died with honor, not in shame." Yevon sighed.

"Hmmm… But you lied… The people believed in you… They thought they, WE, had a chance to win and now you're telling this? What kind of a leader are you? You sent everyone to their graves without them knowing it!"

"Are you sure? I believe they know it, but they still followed my orders. They were ready to die, Yunalesca. I know…  However, before we fall into nothingness, I will make sure we make one final attack."

"With what?" Yunalesca wondered.

"Gather every survivor… We head to the summit of Gagazet mountain…"

            Lenne had just gone off the lift she took.  She was in the verge of tears; she had lost her Aeon and a "father" during the fight.  However, she was not going to waste their life by grieving.  She had to reach Shuyin in time before all was lost.  She had a far more important mission to finish.

            Running through the final hallway of the underground, she finally reached the entrance to Vegnagun.  The great entrance was smashed open as she entered.  She heard a mysterious requiem being played beyond the entrance.  She knew it was Shuyin playing the instrument.  The ground was trembling as she ran inside to reach him.  Reaching the great dome, for the first time, she saw the demon-faced machine as if it was staring at her.

"Shuyin! Stop this!" waving her hands, Lenne shouted.

            The familiar voice pierced through his ear. Startled, Shuyin suddenly pressed the wrong key ruining the rhapsodic melody.  He stood up and looked below the cockpit.  There, he saw Lenne, crying, and waving her arms intensely.

"Get outta here Lenne!" He shouted.

"No! You must end this! You'll destroy Spira!" Lenne cried out.

"But this is the only way! I will not let them harm you! Can't you see Yevon led you to your grave?"

"I know… But as a summoner, I am destined to protect Zanarkand… If you really care for me, stop this… Please!"

            Shuyin hesitated for a moment when suddenly, they heard footsteps marching their way.  Lenne looked behind and saw a group of sentries positioning their rifles at them.  Shuyin jumped below the center and held her on his arms.

"Shuyin… This is it… I guess… Don't let go." Lenne cried.

"I won't. We'll die together… We'll go together to the world beyond." Smiling, Shuyin replied.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

            For one last time, they hugged each other tightly as the sound of bullets echoed in the dome.  The bullets pierced through their body.  Slowly, they began to fall to the ground.  Their eyes met and locked as they waited patiently for death to take them away. Shuyin stretched his arms as he attempted to hold Lenne's hand. With one last tear coming out from both of them, they died, knowing that they would be together again someday.

Oh a thousand words…

One thousand embraces…

Will cradle you…

Making all of the pain you feel seem far away…

They'll hold you forever…