Hey guys. Been a while hasn't it. Don't worry I'm still around. Things have been hectic at home, which has made updating difficult. Just hang in there with me. I won't leave without finishing what I started. Well, we are getting closer and closer to the end of this story. Here's another thrilling chpt. I hope everyone enjoys it.


Lenne and the others stood there aghast at Auron's words. How in the world was it possible for her to be a fayth or even become a fayth when the final summoning and the aeons were a thing of the past? No one could make heads or tails of the situation, for it was just one huge surprise after the other. And it seemed no matter how many battles were won because they seemed to be coming at everyone full blast and almost endlessly.

"How are we gonna destroy her now?" Lenne asked in utter shock at the display before her.

Shuyin looked at Lenne, held up his sword, and looked back at the monster before him. "We attack with full force! There's no holding back now! We've come too far to give up now!"

"I don't get it!" Jecht complained while scratching the back of his head. "How is she a fayth? Did that hussie turn herself into one?"

"No." Braska said stepping forth. "There is only one whom can perform such a task." Jecht looked at Braska clueless as ever. "It is she who gave the summoner the final summoning!"

"Get out of here!" Jecht said. "No way!" Braska only nodded his head.

Auron dashed at the monstrous being who struck forth, bringing her blade down at Auron who managed to dodge her attack. The blade of her sword clanged against the crystallized formation below, shattering the surface.

"You cannot escape me!" yelled the being.

Auron withdrew his attack, heading back for the group. "She's guarding the heart! It's too obvious! Attack the heart, destroy it, and then we got her."

"You called this "the summoning of Altessa." Lenne said. "What did you mean by that?"

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Braska said approaching everyone. "Hence the fact that she calls herself the Soul Reaver. Well, when she absorbed certain souls with unique abilities she obtained the very soul that created aeons for the final summoning."

"Yunalesca." Auron at last spoke up and said. "The being you see before you is Altessa and that in front of her is her very heart."

"Destroy her heart, and you shall destroy Altessa." Braska said.

Shuyin spun his sword around. "Anyone up for a little sword magic?"

And the battle had at last begun. Shuyin stood before Altessa, both glaring at each other through narrowed eyes. Lenne stepped up to the right of, Braska to the left, and both got down on bended knee. Bringing their hands forth, their very surroundings turning to ebony, an orb grew all around encasing all where soon swirls of various colored weaved together, however, just as the two spells combined together to form one holy spell and was about to strike Altessa, Shuyin held his sword high above, surging his anger into his blade and upon gathering energy, the blade glowing a light aqua, he unleashed that anger into the spell above and drew it forth into the blade. Lightening bolts struck forth from the blade only fade into a dark ebony with a strange eerie mist outlining the blade. Shuyin then charged at the heart of Altessa, dodging her attempt to stop him only to strike bring forth his blade upon her heart, which exploded upon impact. Altessa squealed in ravishing pain while one forth of the heart disappeared.

Strangely enough, the journey to the Farplane went uninterrupted. YRP crossed through the mysterious place and into the heart of the Farplane where they now stood upon the same place where they had fought and defeated Vegnagun. They examined the place expecting something out of the ordinary, but things were the same.

"Well, this sucks!" Rikku whined. "And here I was hoping to kick some ghostly butt."

"Keep wishing it and it just might come true." Paine warned.

Silence befell the group and all that surrounded them while they looked around cautiously. . .

"BOO!" came a voice from behind, scaring to girls who squealed and turned to see who was behind them only to see Gippal, Baralai, Brother and Shinra.

"THANKS, GIP!" Rikku shouted "I may never have the hiccups again!"

"Quiet!" Yuna demanded of the group. Everyone fell silent, watching Yuna who turned around and listened or the slightest sound and watched for the slightest movement where seconds later her eyes widened and she pointed into the depths below where Vegnagun was stood. "There." Everyone looked in the direction that Yuna was pointing in and saw a mysterious figure arising. Seconds later, the figured arose with its back turned towards the group of friends. It's tattered, ebony cloak swayed in the air.

"Welcome, summoner." came a soft yet mysterious voice. "I've awaited your arrival."

"Have you?" Yuna asked, narrowing her eyes while slowly drawing her sword.

The being sighed, shaking her head. "There is no need for that, summoner." Yuna eyes widened, wondering how the figure knew she had drawn her sword and it not even look at her. "Every situation doesn't call for a battle." The being then done a back flip, landing on its feet in front of YRP where it then turned and faced them. "I am Caryn."

"Your face. . ." Yuna trailed off. "There's something very familiar about it."

"There is but one other who carries this face." Caryn began.

"The Mistress of Death!" Yuna said once remembering where she once saw that face. "Why do you look like her?"

"She is a part of me." Caryn said. "The blood that once flowed through my veins flowed through hers. She is the very creation of me! I gave her life! She is the flesh of my flesh!" Yuna shook her head in disbelief. "Yes, summoner!

"Her mother!" Yuna said in breathless shock.

"Yes." Caryn said. "Be that as it may, it pains me to say that her mind was corrupted at birth. Such a devilish, rebellious child she was. We lived many millennium ago before the timing of the great war. We are among the hidden secrets Yevon has buried in the ashes of the past. And ashes don't talk, they whisper, but someone whom is willing to listen will hear those whispers and the unveiling of the truth will occur."

"Tell me something." Yuna began. "Why is your daughter try to stop me from being with the man I love?"

"Because she cannot be with the one whom she loves until she absorbs your soul." Caryn said.

"Why my soul?" Yuna snapped "I have heard that time and time again but no one would tell me! What is it that my soul has that she needs so desperately."

"True love." Caryn said calmly.

"Love." Yuna whispered. "Love is what started all of this to begin with. My desire to be with the one I love started this."

"Because love drove you to accomplish the impossible." Caryn. "Now, summoner, choose the two who will aid you in your journey. And I shall help you to the other side where he awaits you."

"You are going to help us stop your very own daughter?" Yuna asked

Caryn nodded her head. "It pains me to do this, but a mother must do what is best for her child. And it is in Altessa's best interest to be stopped before she does herself more harm than what has already been done. Now, choose. Who will be the two to help you?"

"Well, I'm fighting!" Rikku blurted out before anyone could say anything.

"Count me in." Paine said.

"We'll hold things down on this end." Gippal said. "You girls go and show everyone how it's done." He gave YRP a wink and they just smiled, turning back to Caryn.

"First, before crossing, each of you must have the special dressphere equipped." Caryn began. "The Shrouded Spirit has already been obtained by the High Summoner." Two mysterious specters appeared at each side of her, each holding a sphere in their hands. "Now choose which dressphere shall become your own. To my right is the Phantom of the Heart. And to my left is the Angel of Mercy. Choose the one that speaks to you."

Rikku and Paine studied the spheres carefully and upon reaching a decision and with a nod of their heads, they slowly approached the specters. Rikku to the left, Paine to the right, they obtained their dresspheres. And once in hand, the spheres immediately equipped themselves to them and the transformations began.

Golden stardust fell down all around Rikku, placing itself upon her skin, which instantly shimmered with a vibrant glow. Leaning her head back and extending her arms out as if to embrace this wondrous change that was about to happen to her. The glow grew brighter, radiating off a light that would nearly blind the eyes if looked straight in to. Everyone shielded their eyes, turning away, however, upon seeing the glow dim, they looked only to see a star appear over head, instantly twirling all around Rikku. The star gave off a bright flash, disappearing only to reveal Rikku in an elegant golden mini with small slits in the sides and spike heeled golden sandals. Her her flowing trestles of sunshine swayed delicately with the movement of her body. Her twin bladed sword at her side completed her look.

Dark clouds ascended over head. Paine closed her eyes, raising her hands at her sides and holding them high above her head towards the raging sky above. Lightening flashed and the wind began to howl. There, hovering below everyone's feet, was a strange, eerie mist of ebony that was slowly approaching Paine whom appeared to be calling to it. After gathering and taking formation, the mysterious being appeared before Paine, screeching before her, however, instead of attacking her, the being slowly lowered itself to the ground and knelt before her as if to submit to her. Paine then looked down upon her servant and withdrew her sword and ordered the phantom to rise before her. Obeying her orders, the phantom rose, and suddenly transformed itself into a shadowy figure of herself.

"Fight!" Paine ordered and with a screech, the phantom struck forth. Steel collided against steel. The phantom struck forth, Paine dodged its attack only to spin around and collide her blade against its own. The phantom screeched in fury, stepping back a few steps while spinning the sword around only to leap forward, striking at Paine who immediately struck forth herself, striking the phantom not once, but twice. The phantom was knocked to the ground though soon stood upon and at least admit defeat. It transformed back into its formal self only to screech out and bury itself with her chest. Paine gasped, falling to her knees. Her chest laminating a radiant crimson and if one looked closely enough, one could see her very heart pound with her chest. She clinched her very chest in agony when suddenly a misty shadow overtook her very existence and slowly she stood up. The dark mist began to consume itself with her body, revealing her in a full body suit of leather with a plunging neckline in both the front and back and attached around her neck. The body suit itself shaped her body quite well, showing off her every curve. Long leather gloves, spike heels to match, and her Shadow Blade completed her look.

YRP then turned towards Caryn who was more than pleased with the transformations. And with a nod of her head, she slowly rose high above and below her a portal appeared. She closed her eyes, concentrating on keeping the portal open.

"Wait!" Shinra nearly shouted, getting YRP's attention. He then tossed them something. "Thought these might come in handy." YRP smiled only to look at each other and then run off and jump into the portal below.