INTERLUDE 3: LENNE'S PAST
Lenne was about ready to go oddly enough Katejina didn't seem to mind and Marjorie was too busy with Roxanne to even notice. Lenne couldn't find Rimoru, knowing Rim she was most likely wandering. Lenne noticed the different kinship's; she was lucky she had close bonds with Tifa and Yuna. Lenne then noticed Shaden come to her.
"Leaving?" she asked. Lenne nodded.
"To my home." Lenne said. "Well home world really. You should take this time to visit your loved ones Shaden."
"I did." Shaden said. "Didn't go to well. If I stay here I'll go nuts simply sitting." Lenne smiled
"Your more than welcome to come with me." Lenne said. Shaden nodded. Shaden then saw someone it was an old man. Lenne noticed him, as well it was Maechan.
"Ah my lady Lenne." He started. "I found out some interesting facts about the squad that took your life would you like to hear about it?"
"Anything you have would be greatly appreciated old friend." Lenne said with a slight smile.
"You see they knew of you and your lover, Shuyin. They had orders, Shuyin was deemed a menace and sadly enough deadly force was the only way to stop him. You on the other hand were supposed to be brought back to Zanarkand unharmed. Sadly again that was not the case, you see a captain intercepted these orders and sent his own squad in. However they much like him hated anyone with Zanarkardian blood in their veins. Therefore the orders become shoot to kill the rest you know. You where hunted cornered and shot, however the tale does not end there. Shuyin survived and just as he rose the captain who was supposed to get the orders came in with his men. Oh a fierce argument waged but Shuyin saw your body Lenne. The sight of you lying there I fear drove him over the edge. He took the opportunity to scale Vegnagun and activate him to destroy Spira. However he was stopped!"
"HOW!" Lenne practically screamed, Shaden put a comforting hand on Lenne's shoulder.
"Easy my friend." Shaden said her tone soft. Lenne nodded.
"I'm sorry Maechan." Lenne said. "Continue."
"I would." Maechan said. "But the name of whoever stopped Shuyin that one fateful day has been lost. However no bodies where ever recovered from that day. As you saw yourself your body was on this world, who knows where Shuyin's might be resting. But there have been odd reports from where you met your end, Pyreflies have been spotted keeping the guards away. I'm sorry I could be of no more help my lady, and hope you can forgive this old man's feeblemindedness." Lenne smiled.
"You gave me more than enough to go on Maechan." Lenne said. "Thank you."
"Your are most welcome." Maechan said as he walked off. Lenne looked at Shaden. She returned the look Shaden could see the determination in her eyes.
"Your hell bent now aren't you?" Shaden asked. Lenne nodded.
"I have to learn what happened." Lenne said. "If I can't remember my final moments then I fear I will never have peace."
"I'll be with you." Shaden said. Lenne nodded gratefully she then noticed a portal opened.
"Well here we go Shaden." Lenne said. She then went through, Shaden followed. The landed in a dark place behind them was a huge open spot. Lenne looked around the memories came to her, vivid, overwhelming, she fell to her knees. Shaden went to her. Lenne blinked as she saw pyreflies! Not just one but a swarm they seemed to form a wall. Lenne went to the wall she put her hand to it and the hand seemed to get pulled in she gasped as she pulled her hand out.
"Behind here." Lenne whispered. "I'll find answers." She put her hand to the wall and her hand got pulled in, Shaden did the same thing. Shaden was pulled in and her world went black. When the darkness faded she was on her back she moaned weakly as she sat up. She seemed to float she saw no sign of Lenne but what she did see surprised her.
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS TAKING PLACE AT THE TIME LENNE AND SHUYIN MET THEIR SUPPOSED END. JUST CLEARING UP ANY CONFUSION
Shuyin played the organ on top of the gigantic monstrosity known as Vegnagun as the music filled the air.
"Yes." He said. "There is hate you'll clear it all away, the world will be clean no more hate, no more pain!" Shuyin heard someone he looked it was her.
"STOP!" Lenne screamed as she ran out her arms outstretched. "Please! Stop this!"
"Lenne?" Shuyin whispered, He came down Lenne ran to him she embraced him.
"There are other ways." She said looking into his eyes.
"Yes." Shuyin said. They heard a click of guns the both turned, Lenne held Shuyin tight close to her. Shuyin snarled at the troops. The troops simply aimed their guns. Shuyin and Lenne looked at each other.
"Shuyin." Lenne said. "I.." she never got to finish the troops fired their guns at one time. Lenne and Shuyin both fell to the ground. Lenne looked at Shuyin from where she lay, she was on her back, tears fell from her eyes, and she mouthed
"I love you." But then her eyes closed, Shuyin saw Lenne he was filled with regret for being unable to protect her, then his world went dark. The captain looked at the two and smiled.
"Two less dogs to worry about." He said. "Good work men!" Just then the other captain came in followed by his men. He saw the two lovers laying there, a fierce argument ensued which ended with the second captain shooting the first. During this Shuyin awoke, he hurt and he saw Lenne laying there, he rushed to her and cradled her body, but she was limp, the rage swelled up inside him and he screamed, he screamed for his fallen lover. He saw Vegnagun, he gently set Lenne down and scaled Vegnagun quicker than anyone should have been able to. The troops noticed him and shot at him. They all missed, Shuyin sat down and played chords it seemed frantic but a black void formed.
"YOU'LL ALL PAY!" he screamed. "SPIRA IS FINISHED!" just as he finished a bullet hit him he fell forward and toppled in to the void.
"Someone climb that thing and see what he did!" the captain ordered, he went to Lenne. He whispered a prayer for her. However she opened her eyes, she was hurt a young solder went to her.
"Come on." The captain insisted "You need help". Lenne shook her head.
"Vegnagun? That gigantic Machina. Did he activate it?" she asked. The captain nodded. Lenne looked at the young solder.
"Your name?" she asked.
"Conlin." He said. Lenne nodded.
"Can you help me Conlin?" she asked. He nodded, the captain and Conlin helped Lenne climb Vegnagun. She got up there then she fell in a sitting position.
"I don't have much time left." She admitted. "Conlin you see the control panel?"
"It looks like a keyboard." He said. Lenne nodded as she stood up she held her stomach tenderly. She went to him and put her hands over his hands.
"It is, he's programmed by music." She said. "follow my lead Conlin. All of Spira depends on it." He nodded.
Lenne closed her eyes and she saw an image, it was a woman she had mixed colored eyes hair like hers the colorful braid showed she was a Summoner. Lenne opened her eyes she shook her head and closed them again, she had another image this of a woman with long brown hair and also a dark skinned woman with white hair and what looked to be a person with bunny. Lenne shook her head, she had to keep focus she could figure out the images she had later. She guided Conlins fingers as her slightest press she pushed the key and the keyboard. They did this and Vegnagun shut down. A cheer went out from the troops bellow as Lenne slumped Conlin caught her. As he was about to bring her down to the other troops Vegnagun rocked and shifted, he and Lenne where thrown the captain grabbed Conlux's arm. Conlin had Lenne's arm.
"Pull yourself up lad!" he yelled.
"I can't!" Conlin yelled. "I have to help her!" Conlin tried to pull Lenne up but to no avail, his grip loosened and he felt Lenne's hand slip, he looked as Lenne fell while she fell it looked like she split into another person, he shook his head and pulled himself up.
"I couldn't save the girl." He said sadly.
"You tried lad." The captain said. "Thanks to her and you, we are safe from that menace. She'll be remembered dying to save her people." Conlin nodded the troops left Conlin and the captain where last. Conlin glanced back he thought he saw her, she smiled at him and waved before she vanished.
"Come on lad." The captain said. "You've have a rough day. Saving Spira will most likely earn ya a drink with the boys!" Conlin nodded. He would drink that night but while his friends drank to their good fortune he drank to her. The woman whose name her never got who gave her life to save Spira.
END FLASHBACK
Shaden flew back through the pyrefly wall she had seen what happened with her own eyes. She saw Lenne lay there, she went to her friend, Lenne opened her eyes and she smiled.
"I remember." She whispered. "It is no mistake I am alive, I saw you!" Shaden gave Lenne a quizzical look.
"You sure you're ok?" she asked. Lenne nodded.
"Yes I was there in that body I remembered everything!" she said. "When I was up there trying to help that young man I remember seeing visions. Of you, Yuna, Tifa and Katejina! This is truly meant to be!"
Shaden nodded still unsure.
"We are done here then?" she asked. Lenne shook her head.
"If you don't mind my friend there is someplace else I want to check out." Lenne said.
"Your old home?" Shaden asked. Lenne nodded.
"Yuna told me it's been in ruins for one thousand years but still." Lenne said. "I wish to see it with my own eyes." Shaden nodded as she noticed a portal opening in front of them. Shaden went through first, Lenne cast a glance back at the place where she met her end she then nodded as if she had convinced herself to let go and followed Shaden. They landed in Zanarkand, for the past one thousand years it was refereed to as City of the Dead. Lenne saw something she crept closer Shaden by her side, it was Rikku she seemed to be in an argument with an older man and a mohawked man, she noticed the mohawked person from the commsphere, Lenne thought Yuna said his name was Brother.
"Really pops." Rikku exclaimed. "What's with you and wanting to make this place a cheesy tourist trap?"
"Hey!" Cid said. "I have a right to try to educate Spira's youth on Zanarkand."
"Educate?" Brother asked. "You told me it was a quick way to gather up some gil!"
"Not in front of your sister you mohawked dope!" Cid barked in Ah-bhed Lenne had a difficult time understanding the language.
"I knew it!" Rikku said. "You just wanna make some quick gil! Why not play in the sand in Bikinail? Leave Zanarkand alone, oooh if Yunie where here she would let you have it! AGAIN! And she wouldn't be happy with you either Brother!"
"Yuna! Not happy with me!" Brother asked. "Would she talk to me again?"
"Probably not." Rikku said. Brother looked at Cid.
"Yuna not talking to me! I couldn't stand it! I want out!" Brother yelled. "No gil is worth Yuna not speaking to me!" Rikku giggled.
"Bah, fine" Cid grumbled. "I'll be in my sulking spot in Thunder Plains if ya need me. Derned kids" He walked off grumbling. A ladder came down where Brother and Rikku where and Brother jumped on and got lifted up.
"Hey!" Rikku cried. "What about me!"
"Sorry!" Brother cried down. "Cannot hear you!" Rikku pouted, Lenne and Shaden came out of hiding. Rikku saw them and went to them.
"Hey Lenne!" she said. Lenne smiled.
"What was this I heard about Zanarkand being a tourist attraction?" Lenne asked. "Did that really happen?"
"Yep." Rikku admitted. "Pop decided to con Issaru into going into business with him. But we showed em!"
"Issaru?" Lenne asked.
"Uh-huh. He's an ex-summoner just like Yunie!" Rikku said.
"Does erm 'showing em' have anything to do with the monkeys?" Shaden asked noting the monkeys.
"Yep!" Rikku said. "They are the defenders of Zanarkand!"
"Lovely." Shaden sighed.
"Rikku." Lenne said. "Do you mind if Shaden and I take a look around?"
"Sure go ahead." Rikku said, she then got bopped on the head when the rope ladder from The Celsius the airship Rikku works on came down.
"Come on up slow poke!" Brother called. Rikku sighed.
"Ok Lenne gotta run!" Rikku said as she grabbed the ladder.
"Be safe!" Lenne called as the Airship took off. Shaden starred in absolute awe.
"Unbelievable." She whispered. "That is truly a wonder."
"Yeah." Lenne admitted. "In my time they where a lot smaller and terribly unreliable. A lot has changed." Shaden put a hand on Lenne's shoulder.
"One thousand years have passed my friend." Shaden said. "Times change with the coming seasons. It's the way it works." Lenne nodded as she walked further in she went to the chamber of the Fayth. Lenne remembered all the time she spent here as a summoner. The ruins of Zanarkand where breath taking to Shaden as she followed Lenne.
"It's funny." Lenne said. "Even though it's in ruins this place still feels very much like home to me." Lenne looked at Shaden with a smile.
"We can stay as long as you like my friend." Shaden said. Lenne nodded as she walked around some explaining what she could recognize to Shaden. Lenne paused as they returned to the chamber of the Fayth. She smiled.
"My memories here are still so vivid!" Lenne exclaimed.
"Memories never fade my friend." Shaden said. "Cherish them."
"thank you Shaden." Lenne said. "For everything." Shaden nodded.
"My pleasure." She said.
END INTERLUDE THREE