Finally, the ending has begun! Only 4 or so more chapters to go! Onwards to the replies!

Daniel Wesley Rydell: (brain overloads) Too...many...quotes...mixed...together...(faints)

Auron's Fan: I really have no answer to that. If you mean does Yuna send her, no, I don't believe so. It's never shown, at least. Actually, I have a lot of favorite writers and stories, but I mostly keep them bookmarked instead of using the site features for that. Just a quirk. And thanks for saying I have the talent to write.

Iron Reaver: Sir Auron...has finally lost it.

SS5Matt: Heh, pretty nice sneak peek there. I would say something, but I don't want to spoil anything about the sequel. Go to my homepage and look carefully at Ben's bio, though...you may find something interesting.

desert-tiger: The same thing I do every day, of course! Try to take over the world! Mwahaha! (cough) Wait...whoops. Did I say that out loud...? (runs off quickly)

Bracey Face Anime Gurl: Yeah, I have a strong dislike of Bevelle now. And for the most part, I think I'd just go along with things, instead of trying to change them. But it would have to happen for me to know for sure, of course.

And now, without further ado, the beginning...of the end. (cheesy grin)


Chapter 39—Conflicting Views

It only takes about 10 minutes to reach the Highbridge, and soon the airship lands. As we all step out, we're immediately greeted by two guards, rifles pointed directly at us.

"Infidel!" one shouts, Wakka shaking his head.

"Man, don't those guys ever give up?" he says, and I chuckle slightly.

"You'll regret showing your face here!" the other yells. "We'll strike you down in the name of Yevon!"

"Blah, blah, blah. Yeah, so?" Tidus asks, turning to us. "Guys?"

"If they want a fight, let's give 'em one!" Rikku yells, raising her claw. I put my hand on my katana handle, ready to cut these two down.

"Prepare to charge!" one yells, and suddenly, Shelinda runs in from the temple behind them.

"Stop!" she cries, causing the two to stop and turn to face her.

"Captain?" one asks, and she nods.

"Lady Yuna is not to be harmed! That is an evil rumor spread by the Al Bhed!"

"What?" Rikku asks in disbelief.

"Maester Mika himself told me!" she replies, and I frown.

'Probably a lie, then,' I think to myself, taking my hand off my katana handle.

"Then...what are we to do?" the guard asks again, and Shelinda turns back to him.

"Stand down!" Rikku says, before Shelinda can give an order.

"As she says!" Shelinda orders, and the guards lower their rifles, walking back towards the temple.

"What was that about evil Al Bhed?" Rikku asks, and I notice a tinge of anger in her voice.

"I..." she stammers for a moment, before composing herself. "Truly, I do not understand it myself. All Yevon seems to be in a state of confusion. Why, yesterday they called me out of the blue and made me captain of the guard!" she exclaims. For the first time I've seen since being in Spira, Auron smirks.

"Short on believers?" he asks, and I chuckle again. Auron's comment is right on the mark.

"Yes, the chaos in the temples is worse than I'd imagined. It's horrible! And all the priests do is blame each other. I worry what will become of Yevon," she says, looking down for a moment. After a second of staring at the ground, she lifts her head again, determination plastered on her features. "But no! I must be the rock that stands against the swirling tides, right?" she asks, turning to Yuna. "Lady Yuna, I must tell you, your courage has been a great inspiration to me." Yuna simply nods, looking over at the girl.

"Yeah, that's great, but we came here to see Maester Mika," Tidus says, sounding annoyed. "Is he here?" Shelinda nods.

"Yes. I shall arrange an audience," she says, walking away a moment, before stopping. "Please wait in the courtroom." All of us nod as she walks away towards the temple.

"Hey, hey, wait! What was all that about the Al Bhed lying and stuff?" Rikku asks, stepping in front of everyone.

"Simple. Yuna has become Mika's only hope," Auron responds, looking at the Al Bhed girl.

"Oh...okay," Rikku says, understanding it was all a simple lie.

"Just what does he think he can get away with?" Lulu says, slightly angry at Mika's arrogance.

"Time to teach him some manners!" Tidus exclaims, Yuna nodding.

"Yes, let's," she replies, and all of us nod, headed towards the temple.


As we stand inside the courtroom, awaiting the Grand Maester's arrival, I look around, examining the inside of the building intently. Suddenly, Mika walks in, standing in front of all of us.

"Why are you here? You must go and defeat Sin, quickly!" Mika says, looking over all of us. "You have obtained the Final Aeon from Yunalesca, have you not?"

"Well, we did meet her," Tidus says, Yuna continuing his sentence.

"We fought and defeated her." Mika's eyes go wide at this, and he jerks back as if he was punched in the face.

"What!"

"Summoners and guardians will be sacrificed for the Final Summoning no more!" Auron exclaims, stepping forward to face Mika.

"You have profaned and subverted a thousand-year-old tradition! Fools! Infants! Do you realize what you've done? You've taken away the only means of calming Sin!" Mika yells, obviously in shock at what we've done.

"Maester Mika? You are wrong. We've found another way to beat Sin, and we're going to do it. Whether you think we can or not doesn't really matter to me. Believe what you will," I say, annoyed at the Maester's arrogance.

"Why...preposterous! There is no other way!" he shouts, glaring at us.

"The grand maester, running away?" Auron states, looking over at Mika.

"Spira has lost its only hope. Destruction is inevitable. Yu Yevon's spiral of death will consume us all. I have no desire to watch Spira die."

"It won't die!" Yuna exclaims, clenching her fists.

"Who is this Yu Yevon guy?" Tidus asks, confused as to what the maester mentioned.

"Lady Yunalesca also mentioned him," Lulu adds, Rikku looking at Mika with a confused expression as well.

"Wait, gramps! Who's Yu Yevon?"

"He who crafts the souls of the dead into unholy armor. An armor called Sin. Clad in it, Yu Yevon is invincible. And the only thing that could have pierced that armor, you have destroyed! Nothing can stop it now," Mika replies, shaking his head, before vanishing, a few pyreflies floating from where he stood.

"Disappear on us, will ya? Rotten son of a shoopuf!" Wakka curses, and I chuckle slightly at his choice of words.

"Where...where is the grand maester?" Shelinda says, startling me slightly with her quick appearance.

"He, um..." Yuna begins, but is cut off by Auron.

"He's not here yet. How long must we wait?" Auron says stoically, and Shelinda steps back a little.

"That's odd...I'll go look for His Grace," she replies, walking away quickly.

"It's you," Tidus suddenly says, and I turn to see the fayth floating there, in front of us.

"Come, to my room," he says, looking over Tidus, Yuna, and I, and we all nod.

"Okay," Yuna replies, the fayth vanishing a moment after.

"Who you talking to?" Wakka asks us, Tidus spinning to face him.

"Oh. Uh, no one."

"I must go see the fayth," Yuna says, Auron smirking for the second time I've seen.

"I see," he replies simply, and I nod, speaking up.

"I also need to see the fayth. I'm going with them." Auron nods yet again, and Tidus, Yuna, and I walk off towards the Cloister of Trials.


As we enter the Cloister of Trials, I look around, and see the fayth floating in front of us. Stepping farther into the room, I do the prayer gesture to the fayth. Even though the religion of Yevon is more or less a farce, I still do the gesture as a sign of respect.

"Hello," the fayth says, looking over the three of us.

"I must thank you for the aeon," Yuna says, and I nod.

"Yes, I must thank you as well."

"So, what's up?" Tidus asks, causing me to shake my head.

"So, have you found a way to truly defeat Sin?" the fayth asks, Tidus crossing his arms for a moment.

"Well...I think so."

"Well?" the fayth asks again.

"We fight Yu Yevon," Tidus states, the fayth nodding slightly.

"Yes...if you defeat Yu Yevon, it will end. Tell me, what do you know about Yu Yevon?"

"He's what makes Sin come back!" Tidus says, Yuna nodding.

"Sin is his armor. It protects him," she says, and I decide to speak now.

"He lives inside Sin, summoning forever. He relies on the Final Aeon to remake Sin anew." The fayth nods to all of us, and begins to speak once again.

"Yu Yevon was once a summoner, long ago. He was peerless. Yet now he lives for one purpose: only to summon. He is neither good, nor evil. He is awake, yet he dreams. But...maybe not forever."

"Yeah, that's right," Tidus says, nodding. "Because we're ending it."

"Yes. Even if you defeat Sin with the Final Summoning, Yu Yevon will live. Yu Yevon will join with the Final Aeon. He will transform it into a new Sin."

"Yu Yevon merges with the aeon..." Yuna murmurs, the fayth continuing to speak.

"Then, protected by this new Sin he has created, Yu Yevon continues the summoning."

"For eternity...huh?" Tidus asks, the fayth nodding once more.

"But you know, there is no such thing as eternity if you end it, is there?" the fayth asks, and I smile.

"Right," I say simply.

"Yu Yevon lives inside Sin. Yuna, Ben, listen. When you fight Yu Yevon, we will help you. Promise me you'll summon us. I'm afraid your swords and magic won't be enough. Please, call us. Promise?" the fayth says, looking at the two of us.

"Yes," Yuna replies, nodding.

"We'll call you," I say, looking at the fayth.

"But, you know," he begins, turning to face Tidus, "When it is all over...we will wake, and our dream will end. Our dream will vanish." Tidus just nods.

"Yeah. You've been dreaming a long time, haven't you?" he asks, a slight tinge of sorrow in his voice.

"I'm sorry," the fayth says, looking at the blond boy.

"I'm grateful," he replies quickly, rubbing the back of his head with his right hand. The fayth vanishes then, leaving us alone in the Chamber of the Fayth.

"About what?" Yuna says, turning to look at Tidus.

"Oh, nothing," Tidus replies, Yuna making a face of annoyance. "Hey, don't make that face! Come on! We're going to beat Sin! Let's see some cheer, okay?"

"You're hiding something," Yuna says plainly, and I edge back. More out of unconscious movement than actual thinking, I think, but out of slight fear no matter which it was.

"I'm not!" Tidus denies, walking towards the door.

"Really?" Yuna asks, causing Tidus to stop and make a hand gesture, seemingly waving it off. Tidus walks out the door then, and Yuna just continues to stare at where he stood. "You're a bad liar, you know?" she says, and I walk over to her.

"Yuna, it'll be okay. You'll see. Let's just go. We need to put an end to Spira's suffering," I say, Yuna looking at me for a moment before nodding, as we both walk out of the chamber.


As we arrive back at the courtroom, I notice Shelinda approaching as well.

"I'm afraid the Grand Maester is nowhere to be found!" she exclaims, looking at us.

"S'okay, we were just leaving," Tidus says, shrugging slightly.

"Oh...I see," Shelinda replies, Rikku stepping up slightly to face her.

"Hey! Maybe you could help us with the hymn," she tells Shelinda, who looks confused now.

"Hey, good idea!" Tidus agrees, and I nod, looking at Shelinda.

"It's like, we need you to tell as many people as you can," Rikku tells her, and she looks at the Al Bhed girl with a confused expression.

"What should I tell them?"

"A ship in the sky will sing the Hymn of the Fayth. When they hear it, we need everyone to sing along!" Rikku exclaims, obviously happy at the idea.

"Everyone in Spira!" Wakka agrees, looking over at the two of them.

"I'm not sure I understand," Shelinda replies, and I sigh softly.

'When has she ever...' I think, shaking my head as Rikku continues.

"You don't have to! Just tell everyone!"

"A ship in the sky will sing the Hymn of the Fayth," Shelinda repeats, looking over at all of us. "So when they hear it, everyone should sing along, correct?"

"If they do, we might be able to defeat Sin!" Tidus exclaims.

"Truly?" Shelinda asks incredulously.

"Yes!" Yuna says, her voice filled with hope and happiness.

"That's wonderful! You can count on me! I shall tell all of Spira!" Shelinda exclaims, running out quickly.

"We better get back to the airship. It's time to beat Sin, once and for all," I state, everyone nodding in agreement, and heading back out to the Highbridge.


Back on the airship, we all head to the bridge. As we enter, Tidus moves to speak to Wakka for some reason, but Wakka steps away, walking over to Cid. The older man turns, and Wakka begins to speak.

"There's something I want to say before the fight. I guess I didn't know anything about the Al Bhed. Didn't know anything. Didn't want to listen to anything. I was a big jerk. So, I...well, uh...I'm sorry, ya? Please forgive me," he says, Cid looking at him and nodding.

"Don't let it bother you. Hey, I'm guilty of hating those durn Yevonites, myself! There's a lot of folk in this world—some of 'em good, some of 'em bad. That's all there is to it," Cid replies, and Wakka nods, stepping back over to where he was standing. Cid turns back to the control panel, and Tidus walks over to Cid now.

"The final showdown with Sin," Cid says as Tidus approaches, turning to face the boy. "I say let's get this show on the road!"

"Let's do it, then!" Tidus yells, and we all nod, Cid turning back to the control panel, and tapping a few keys. Motioning to Brother, Cid says something in Al Bhed, and Brother nods, tapping something on the panel in front of him.

"Yee ha! Here we go!" Cid yells, as the airship begins to fly towards where I can only assume Sin is. And with it, the end of Spira's suffering will begin.


Finally, the final battle with Sin! The next chapter will, more or less, be one continuous fight scene. So get ready, because Sin is going down! As always, please review!