Disclaimer: Square-Enix Incorporated owns all copyrighted material this fanfiction may include. All other materials, such as characters, events, dialogue, et cetera, all belong to Zeshin-kun.

Author's Note: No reviews? ;.; I still see the views going up, but it'd be nice to have some critiques. Am I going in the right direction? Are the characters still IC after all this time? Is the story going how you thought it would go? If it hasn't, is it going in a better direction or would you have me shift gears? With my absences, it becomes a major concern that I am still within your fancy.

In any event, last we left off, Shuyin had accidentally activated his newly received Berserker Dressphere coupled with the The End Garment Grid and lashed out at friend and foe due to his frustrations. Tidus showed that he was capable of taking up the mantle of hero by felling the beast and proved he was a powerful ally, but more importantly, a friend. With Shuyin finally calmed, will he be able to recollect himself for the trials to come? Will the others be able to get through to him and form a true team to face the threat to Spira?

Spira: The Eternal Discord

Chapter 26: Enter the Western Guardian

Shuyin

When I came to, I felt like a shoopuf used me for a jump rope. I couldn't remember much of the fight. Being trapped in Berserk made my thoughts scant and simple, broken pieces of rage and anger flooding my senses. I could recall activating the sphere and being filled with a surge of raw instinct, which was translating my desire to hunt down the now two enemies into bitter fighting and lashing out at the closest moving objects. Further, there was a growing hunger, a need to attack that was born out of the essence of the dressphere. I was powerless to contain it…

"I was so weak…" I murmured aloud, turning over from my position.

Rikku was on me in a second, "Shuyin, you're awake!"

Getting up without accepting her assistance, I walked a few steps, noticing the dream of the faith coming back over, as well. Turning away from him, I was greeted by the Al Bhed's bubbly eyes, pleading with them to have me speak to her.

"I'm sorry for what I did to you." I said lowly, trying to turn away again.

"It wasn't your fault." Rikku immediately replied, pulling at my sleeve to prevent me from looking away.

"I shouldn't have let it control me. I was trained better than that."

"Not with how you were reacting to everything lately. Shuyin, what happened should show you to trust us more instead of trying to do things all on your own. Let us in."

"The last time I did that…" I tried to end it, but she wouldn't let me.

"The last time, you didn't know any better. They didn't die because of you, either." She corrected, "Your city was at war. There are always casualties."

"Home…"

"Yea, and I lost a lot of my friends with it. I had to see Keyakku bloody and battered and knew I couldn't do anything to help him. That still didn't stop me from believing in Yunie and her guardians. We're stronger as a team."

"We're also a bigger target that way." I told her, finally getting the opportunity to walk away.

My present direction took me straight into a direct path with my better, but he would make no moves. As he passed me, I felt the guilt of having pushed him so much, eventually forcing him to activate his own Garment Grid, which I was sure he wasn't comfortable with. After he was past, I stopped and took in a breath.

"Rikku?" I whispered.

"Yea." She said softly directly at my back.

"They're all gone. They're all gone and I'm left behind." I said, revealing my true thoughts.

"You have another chance now. You can live your life."

"Why me? Why don't they get this chance? I'm the one responsible for their deaths and I get to come back to life while they continue to rot in the Farplane."

"It wasn't your fault."

"Of course it was, Rikku. Areth might have pulled the triggers and called in the strikes, but I was the one that let him in. It was my naïve actions that let Areth in and plot behind our backs. It was because I didn't figure out any of the schemes going on that let them proceed and kill everyone that ever mattered to me. And you know what seeing all that early would've done? No Sin, no pilgrimages, no generations of suffering. It's my…"

"Will you quit already! You couldn't have seen all that if you had the chance. Besides, did it ever occur to you that maybe a happier future might have other problems? There's nothing you can predict about what you could've done except that a lot more of Bevelle would've been destroyed. Yunie's from Bevelle, too!" She exclaimed, inadvertently pulling me into further guilt.

"I just don't know anymore." I admitted, looking down, "I spent the last days of my life believing that I could've done more and was ready to lay down my life to make amends in the end. After I died, I saw the result of my failure and thought I could repent by bringing a true peace to Spira. I just don't know my place in this world now."

I felt her hand gently place itself on my shoulder as she walked to my side, "Your place is what it always should've been, Shuyin, to be you. Honestly, you think too much of yourself. You're not responsible for everything that happens. You're only one person. Nobody expects you to be the hero."

"Nobody ever knew me anyway. No, I wasn't expected to be a hero. I was expected to be an entertainer, a jock, or later on a great evil. But the real me is kept hidden away and nobody cares." I muttered, grinning at the end.

Rikku suddenly pulled close, looking up at me with her innocent eyes like Kirin used to and sang, "Nobody knows who I really am; maybe they just don't give a damn. But if I ever need someone to come along, I know you would follow me and keep me strong."

I looked at Rikku and saw Kirin again. These were her thoughts from the past. Somehow, they were being manifested by Rikku though I wasn't hallucinating like I had been as an unsent. It was real and that brought me a measure of hope. The words were impactful, as well. Her message was clear and showed through Kirin's own doubts. She was fine being kept as the little sister who only eased the drama going on in my life without ever discussing her own difficulties because she knew I would be there for her when it really mattered. It was the companionship that made us stronger as a team in my past even if it was broken by external forces we couldn't see. Rikku was using this to remind me of that fact because separating myself had done worse. I was severely injured, rebutted possible strategies, and even went mad with self-hatred and doubt only to lash out at the ones who'd been trying to help me. I should've thought to retain the good qualities of my past rather than abandon my new allies to pursue demons that were no longer solely my own.

"I will, Rikku. Just like I was for them, I'll be here for you… because I know you'll be there for me." I told her, smiling contently for once.

As we headed back, we noticed that Yuna and Paine were coming around. I apologized to them both when we arrived, but they didn't want me to. Yuna shook her head with a smile and Paine shrugged it off and walked a few steps away. It seemed I had a new group that I should've accepted a long time ago as friends and not simply as allies. It took some doing, but they finally got through to me and as we were together, we would strike fiercer than before. Areth had revealed himself an unsent like I had been, existing for the past millennium. I didn't know how that would affect his personality, though he had been free to roam unlike me and his conscience had all but dissolved by the time I sent him to an early grave. My darkness was desperate, though, so it would still be first. Areth never could cause much trouble on his own anyway, so leaving him was safer than leaving the shadow.

And as it happened, the shadow came for us. Suddenly, the ground erupted into billows of dirt and rock. Amidst them was a figure who cackled wildly before revealing another figure. As the dust began to clear, it was evident that the shadow was holding yet another Aeon captive, though this time, it was only summoned and not possessed. What its intentions were weren't clear as a struggling Aeon wasn't going to do it much good.

"Hello one and all. Did you miss me? I know you were shocked before about my Ixion steed, but maybe my next trick will have you wowing in amazement." It mused, brushing some of its hair away from his face.

"Looks like your back-up's a bit tied up. She's not goings to be much use to you like that." I spat.

"All good things come to those who wait, Shuyin. Are you ready for this?"

"Let Shiva go now!" Yuna screamed abruptly, pointing her guns.

"Oh, I plan to. But the end result might not thrill you either." It mused, "Then again, maybe it will. Who knows?"

With that, it dissipated the bonds on Shiva and pushed it forward. While the rest of them prepared to get Shiva to safety, I waited, knowing that it wasn't over. Grinning, it used its sword and stabbed the Aeon through, killing it on the spot. As it broke into pyreflies, though, the shadow summoned forth a tiger-headed Coeurl fiend. Using the power of the fayth's pyreflies, it forced them upon the fiend, warping it.

Pyrefly after pyrefly assaulted the creature causing it to grow, to change, and to fill with unabated fury. It was confused as was the fayth surrounding it. The shadow had possession of both and was bending corporeal and ethereal properties in them to create something new and vile. I knew about this power as an unsent. I was capable of it, as well, which now became clear as to the reason the shadow started with Ixion. It was an unconscious move on my part, but I did force the fayth and the ensuing horde of fiends to combine with the machine of Djose Temple and they were successful in doing so. This time, though, what awaited would be worse. This time, we had another Aeon-fiend.

"Ever hear the legend of the four guardians?" The shadow suddenly inquired.

"We're not interested in your stories. Just get…"

"There was Suzaku and Seiryu…" It said, interrupting me.

Slowly, it walked forward and began to pet the incomplete creature next to it, "And Genbu…"

The cloud of pyreflies cleared and a great roar echoed through the Calm Lands, "And Byakko, magnificent White Tiger of the West."

The Aeon-fiend took a few steps forward, its mouth snarling and spewing frost with every breath. Its eyes glared at each of us as we unleashed our weapons. My hand brushed over the Garment Grid, The End, and I felt myself shudder, taking my eyes off the enemy for a single second to scan its surface. Passing it and reaching at the hilt of my sword, I unsheathed it as the rest of them began attacking the "Byakko". Yuna's bullets were the first to reach, but they were soon stopped, encased in small balls of ice.

"Legend said it had the most devastating power of frost. Let's put that to the test." My dark half continued to joke.

"You've got your facts wrong, jackass. Byakko was a divine being with the prestige of glistening metal. That was its true element. What you've created is nothing more than a cheap representation. You really need to work on your…" I shot back, but was interrupted again.

"Details. Kitty, go play with the grown-ups."

As we charged, into battle, I noticed Rikku turn to wink at me and memories flooded into my mind again. It was Kirin who, despite being broken inside, had offered her continual support to the very end. It was our first game back from the off-season. Jurama had already been dead for a month and the last I'd seen of her, she had grown her own dark intentions, fueled by hatred and revenge. One month of regret must have brought her back from the brink before she proceeded down a path she could never return from, my path. She would wink at me before moving into the Sphere Pool to let me know she had come back. Now, Rikku was telling me the same, that the evil that I couldn't fight, she would for me no matter what.

Hito no kokoro wa utsuri
Yuku nukedashita'ku naru
Tsuki wa mata atarashii shuuki
De fune wo tsurete'ku

This is a new chapter to the story. I'm not alone.

And every time I see your face,
The oceans heave up to my heart
You make me wanna strain at the oars,
And soon I can see the shore

I'm not beyond saving…

Author's Note: Well, a new resolve for the old one, eh? With a united team, can they finally bring the chaos to an end? First thing to do is fend off the "Byakko" and see about taking down Shuyin's dark half. Then, we'll see what Areth has in store. Also, now with a confident Shuyin at the helm, what might be the antagonist response? Will they simply allow a united force? How can they tear them back down? Find out next time!