DISCLAIMER: I do not own any locations, characters, or names associated with Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy X-2. I do, however, own this story J
I was on a good streak these past few days, so to thank all of you for the great reviews, I have decided to post the final two chapters of Silver Wings as well as the first chapter to Silver Wings 2 at the same time. Thanks so much and keep the reviews coming. They really mean a lot to me!
Author's Notes: For those of you wishing that Allyn would get what's coming to her, this chapter is for you. Although, after you find out some of the stuff that Benedict has done, you might feel sorry for Allyn. In this chapter you will also find out what happened to Lenne and Shuyin. There is one more chapter after this one that wraps up Silver Wings. The entire 'Shuyin/Lenne' saga will be wrapped up in Silver Wings 2. The first chapter of that story will be posted shortly. Also, please note that in the next two chapters any words in italics indicate that it is Lenne speaking and no one else (except the fayth) can hear her.
Below is chapter 20. Leave a review and let me know what you think J
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SILVER WINGS
by akksgurl
Chapter Twenty: Comeuppance
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The tranquility of Benedict's office was shattered when the door flung open and slammed against the wall. He lifted his eyes to his unwanted visitors – Reiber and Allyn Ackmard. Both looked furious and upset and he took note of the red-rimmed eyes that belonged to Allyn.
She had been crying.
"How can I help you both?" Benedict asked smugly as he rose from his seat. He knew exactly why they were there.
Reiber stepped forward with a furious look in his eyes, "How dare you shoot!"
"They were intruders, sir," Benedict replied, "and when it comes to Vegnagun you always said to shoot first and ask questions later."
"But it was Shuyin and Lenne!" Allyn screamed as she lunged forward only to be stopped by her father's firm arm, "Why did you kill them?!"
Benedict shook his head, "Are you truly that misinformed?" he asked as he chuckled to himself, "Your beloved Shuyin is just fine. He's being held in the prison below. I had the doctors tend to him."
"And…Lenne?" Allyn asked.
"She's dead. That should make you happy." Benedict replied, "She's out of the way permanently now."
"She's…dead…" Allyn whispered. Her eyes locked with the floor for a moment before she looked up to glare at him, "You weren't supposed to shoot!"
Benedict laughed, "Whatever you say, dear. Look, Lenne is gone. Shuyin is fine and doesn't know she's dead yet so you can be the one to break the news and let him cry on your shoulder. What more do you want?" he took a step closer, "I want my reward now, though."
"Your reward?" Reiber asked as he cast a look at his daughter, "What reward, Allyn?"
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Shuyin woke up in a dark and cramped cell. His head hit the ceiling above him when he tried to sit up, "Shit!" he cursed.
"Shut up in there!" a Bevelle soldier hissed as he poked his gun into Shuyin's side.
"Damn Zanarkand brat," the other soldier said, "it's their fault this war is dragging on."
Shuyin's eyes focused hard on them as he sat up straight, "If you'd stop attacking, there wouldn't be a war!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," hissed the soldier as he and his friend turned their backs on Shuyin. The blitzer looked around the darkened room trying to find the cell that they were holding Lenne in. There didn't appear to be anyone else in the room and he sighed. They must be holding her somewhere else. The taller soldier spun around, "Stop squirming in there, brat!"
"Yeah," the other agreed, "Aren't you sorry for the mess you've caused?"
"No, I'm not sorry!" Shuyin cried, "I haven't done anything wrong." The men turned their backs to him and took a few steps away as if trying to appear like they weren't listening but Shuyin knew better, "I know you're listening. If she was your girl what would you do?" he pounded his hands on the bars, "How can you blame me for trying to use your weapon? It was the only way I could save the summoner! What would you do if you were me?!" he let his hands slide down the bars dejectedly and a single tear slipped from his eyes, "Ugh! Let me out! I...I want to see her!"
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Bright white light blinded Lenne as she wandered down the corridor. She didn't know where she was. The last thing she remembered was the incapacitating pain of the bullets entering her body and then she was here. She needed to find Shuyin. He needed her.
A small figure appeared before her. It was a small boy in a purple cloak with the hood pulled over his head. A fayth. Only, it wasn't a fayth she was familiar with. This fayth must have been new for Bevelle's fayth had been stolen years before.
"Hello, Lenne." Said the fayth. His voice seemed faintly familiar but Lenne didn't know why and didn't feel like contemplating it. She needed to find Shuyin.
"Hello." Lenne replied, "Can you help me find my way out of here?"
The fayth stepped closer to her and gently took her hand, "Your time here is over. You must come with me now."
Lenne pulled her hand away and shook her head. She didn't want to entertain the thoughts that the fayth were putting into her mind. She was fine and as soon as she found Shuyin they'd return to Zanarkand together. Everything was fine! She took a step back, "I'm sorry, but I have to find my boyfriend. We have to go home."
"Lenne," the fayth replied, "you and Shuyin have no home anymore. Zanarkand was destroyed just hours ago."
"That's a lie!" Lenne shrieked as she stepped back even further, "Zanarkand is fine and so am I. I'm just lost right now but I'll find Shu and then we'll go home!"
The fayth whispered, "Let me show you," as he waved his small hand. A picture of Zanarkand appeared and Lenne gasped. Her home was indeed destroyed and the monster that was the cause didn't seem finished with its work.
Her eyes connected with the fayth as he made the horrible image disappear, "My friends…" she paused, "What is that monster?"
"Zaon and Yunalesca are fine. Yu Yevon made them leave before the monster appeared." The fayth's voice became grim as he continued, "It is called Sin and it is the final aeon of Yu Yevon. Once summoned, Sin's main purpose is to destroy. Yunalesca and Zaon are destined to fight it and stop its ravages for a period of 10 years and in doing so, they will die. You, however, are destined to truly and completely defeat it and live to tell the tale."
Lenne scoffed, "But weren't you just saying that I'm dead? How am I supposed to fulfill my destiny now?"
"You misunderstand," the fayth replied, "'Lenne' is not destined to defeat Sin. 'Yuna' is."
Lenne's face was a mask of confusion and she took a tentative step forward, "But you just said that Yuna and Zaon are going to die!" she shook her head, "Make up your mind!"
The fayth appeared to form a smile on his face but it was quickly replaced with a blank stare, "You, Lenne, are dead. Your time on Spira as Lenne is over." He gently took her hand and she didn't remove it as he continued, "In the Farplane there is a constant cycle of souls that return to Spira to have another chance at life. You are destined to return to Spira as a young girl named Yuna and defeat Sin completely."
"You mean…reincarnation?"
The fayth nodded, "Yes. 'Yuna' is destined to defeat Sin in 1000 years. You will be born again knowing deep in your soul that your purpose is to stop the monster that ravages Spira but you will have no memory of your past life as Lenne."
"Well…I…" Lenne stopped and removed her hand from the fayth's again. She took a deep breath and said, "No. I won't leave Shuyin." She frowned, "I never told him I love him…"
"He knows you do…" the fayth replied.
"How can you be so sure?!" Lenne cried, "What if he doesn't? I have to tell him!"
The fayth frowned, "He can't hear you, Lenne. Only I can."
"So he's still alive?"
"Yes."
Lenne paused for a moment then asked, "Am I the only one who can stop Sin?" the fayth nodded and she continued, "Then here's the deal. If I agree to this, then you have to promise me that Shuyin will be with me when I defeat Sin in 1000 years. I want a second chance with him."
The fayth nodded, "I promise that Shuyin will be reincarnated with you. Neither will remember each other, though. You'll be starting from scratch."
Lenne smiled, "I'll know him. I have no doubt in my mind that I'd know him anywhere." She paused and looked behind her, "Can I ask one more favor?" she requested.
"What would that be?"
"I want to be with him for just a few moments. I want to try and make him hear me. I want to say goodbye."
The fayth shook his head, "He can't hear you, Lenne. He can't see you and he won't be able to feel you near. All he'll feel if you touch him would be cold. I'm afraid it would only upset you."
"Give me those two wishes, or else the deal is off."
The fayth sighed, "Very well." He closed his eyes and looked down. The frown on his face deepened and he whispered, "I can only give you 10 minutes." He said, "And I'm sure that you'll regret this. I have just seen his future, and it is not very bright…"
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"Reward?" Allyn said with a giggle, "Oh you know Benedict's sense of humor, Daddy."
Reiber frowned at his daughter, "No, dear. I don't." he narrowed his eyes, "I do, however, know that Shuyin suspected you of trying to kill Lenne…"
Benedict's annoyed groan stopped Allyn's retort and he motioned to his men to guard the only exit from the office. Benedict lifted his revolver to Reiber's forehead, "She didn't try…I did." He stated as he pulled the trigger.
Reiber's body slumped to the floor in a bloody puddle and Allyn's scream tore through the room. She turned and made a run for the window which was open to the ground level but Benedict's hands were firmly on her neck before she got there. He pulled her body back toward him and whispered, "There are a few things I need to tell you, Allyn."
"W…w….what?" she stammered. Her fear was getting the better of her now and she dared not squirm.
"If only you could have just stopped the damned Shuyin obsession, Allyn," he whispered into her ear, "We could have been so happy together." His fingers tightened slightly and he ran his tongue slowly over her earlobe, "I had Shuyin's parents killed. Then I hired Georg to get you away from him."
"What!"
"I had my men set the fiends loose on his parents. I hoped that would break you up but when it didn't work, Georg was hired to get you away and when that didn't work, I killed him and let you take the fall for it."
Allyn's mind was reeling. She gasped, "But I remember killing him!"
"No you don't." Benedict replied as he pulled her closer, "You remember finding him bloodied and the knife at your feet. You thought you killed him. I framed you…" he hissed.
Allyn shrieked and began her struggling anew. She wanted to kill Benedict for what he'd done but the more she struggled the more the man laughed a maniacal laugh that sent chills up her spine. He motioned with his head for his men to leave the room and then he spun her to face him, "What are you going to do to me?" she asked.
Benedict laughed, "Are you really that stupid?" he asked, "You just saw me kill your father and I just admitted to killing Georg and Shuyin's parents." He lowered his face to hers, "What do you think I'm going to do to you?"
"You're going to ki…" she began but her sentence was cut short when Benedict swiftly snapped her neck with one hand and let her lifeless body fall to the floor.
He laughed to himself and called to his soldiers, "Get the bodies out of here. You know where to put them. Tell everyone else that Reiber and his daughter fled the country."
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The blindfold covered his eyes as Shuyin was pushed along the rocky path that the soldiers were shoving him along. He didn't know where he was going but he hoped that they were taking him to see Lenne. He hoped they were taking pity on him.
He couldn't see anything but he thought he faintly smelled Lenne's lavender perfume as they came to a stop, "Lenne?" he asked.
"I'm right here, Shuyin!"
"Shaddup!" cried one of the soldiers as he elbowed Shuyin hard in the stomach. The blitzer lurched forward and fell to his knees just as his ears picked up the sound of a boulder being pushed. A feeling of dread filled Shuyin. He didn't know where he was, but something told him that wherever it was, wasn't good.
Lenne didn't know what the soldiers were doing bringing Shuyin to a cave under Mushroom Rock Road. She knew, however, that he could sense her there and she didn't want to give that up. Once the bolder was pushed away from the cave entrance, the bigger of the soldiers pulled Shuyin roughly to his feet and threw the blitzer into the cave. Lenne ran toward Shuyin. She touched his shoulder and he shivered, "It's cold in here!" he cried as he pulled the blindfold from his eyes, "Where the hell am I?"
"Your new home, brat." One of the soldiers replied.
Shuyin looked around the cave and rose to his feet, "This is a cave." He replied, taking a few steps back toward the exit, "Where is Lenne?"
"I'm right here, Shuyin! I'm right behind you!"
A fat soldier spat on the ground and shoved Shuyin roughly back onto his butt, "Stay there!" he hissed.
Shuyin glared at him, "Where is Lenne? Why am I here?"
"You're here," the one who seemed to be the commander replied, "because we have orders to leave you here." He motioned to the other men who began to struggle with the rock again.
Suddenly the meaning of their words became clear to Lenne and she ran forward, "No! You can't leave him in here! NO!!!"
Shuyin's shouts were the only ones they heard, though, as he struggled from the other side to keep the boulder from closing before him, "NO!" he screamed, "I don't want to die in here! Where's Lenne?!"
The exit was covered more and more with the boulder and just before it slid completely into place the fat man sneered through the crack, "She's dead, but don't worry. You'll be with her soon."
