All things must end, and so; they do. Yuna finally confronts Yu Yevon and the last remaining secrets come to light.

Most of this chapter is the same save for grammar/spelling and adding bits of dialogue here or there. However the last two pieces of dialogue have been changed from the original so it reads differently. This chapter also has a different name as the old name didn't feel quite right (the Phoenix is not native to Yevon -_-).

Thank you for the follows/reviews (ahhhhh I can start posting the sequel soon! you guys amaze me).

italics = denotes thought or memory

Not Mine

From the Ashes

The ground under Yuna tipped and fell away beneath her. And she felt Tidus disappear from her hands. He was dying and Yuna felt her heart clench in pain that she would not get to spend his last hours with him. She knew however that Sin was always alone, and that loneliness came with a gift - the great understanding of the world they were a part of. Somehow despite this the people with her also knew what it felt like to be alone. Even with the encompassing love that they all shared, they all dealt in moments of loneliness and would suffer that way.

Suddenly the world came crashing down upon her and opened up at the same time. As she adjusted to the change she could see a collection of dark colors - black, purple, and red. They made up the sky and swirled around and above her like an oil spill. The ground beneath her feet was a platform stretching out seemingly forever until it took a steep plunge, falling into the depths beyond. The orb settled down, in front of her floating just at face level. Yuna then heard a voice in her head, willing her to speak of what it had said, "Welcome to my heartland Lady Yuna."

She turned to everyone her eyes blank, "He welcomes us."

Rikku stared at Yuna her brow wrinkling as her mouth frowned, "He?"

"Yu Yevon." she explained.

There was something wrong, Yuna could feel it deep down in her heart but she didn't know how to explain it. Something was wrong with her connection to Tidus; she could still feel it in her mind. Even as Tidus died she could still feel something inside her head, and she didn't understand why. With Tidus defeated the connection should have ended. A small headache blossomed behind her eyes, "Here you will meet your end. Summon your Aeons, it makes little to no difference. You will die."

Turning she looked at her friends her eyes no longer blank or dead, "It is time."

Lulu moved and put her hand on Yuna's shoulder touching her lightly, as if to show her support, "Yes. Call them. Let's go home hum?"

"Right."

She raised her staff and called down the wind. Called down her first Aeon, Valefor. The Aeon's head was raised and it's beak pointed at the sky. She stared at Yuna with shining eyes, proud and sad at the same time. Valefor's voice spoke to her, "Thank you. Now strike me down."

The orb of Yu Yevon circled around it and descended taking the Aeon's body and soul. Then she spoke no more, it was black and grey. Evil and death, the next Sin.

Behind her Lulu spoke, "I will deal with this one."

Thunder came down from the sky crashing into the ground and sending the Aeon sprawling back. And yet she stood. A second stronger blast that it had not foreseen came after that, and another and another, a massive round of lightning death. And she crowed and died.

Next was Ifrit flames and glory, "We shall finally rest. Extinguish me."

And the orb took this one too. Turing his beautiful red flame to the shades of gray and blue that Valefor had suffered. Auron appeared before her now, and next to him stood Rikku. She threw a sparkling gem of ice and then another. The Aeon angered turned on her and stopped before he could move. A blade to the heart.

Each death Yuna felt and each death pained her. And yet Lulu still stood next to her. After all it was the promise they had made in the cave, to protect each other no matter what the circumstances. Lulu's nurturing presence in that moment was a godsend.

Next she called forth the lightning, Ixon, "You are our savior. End it right here."

And the orb continued to circle around them. Taking over Ixon, it made the Aeon its next target.

Behind her multiple shots were fired in volleys making the air around them smell of smoke. Yuna turned to see Nooj there gun raised. The Aeon quickly crumpled.

Her fingers tightened around the staff and she wondered why she had to do this. It wasn't fair, these fayth, their Aeons they were so vibrant and full of deserved to be happy, they had done more for Spira after all then she ever had. This is what they wanted but… it still hurt.

Next a blast of ice and Shiva descended from the sky, She had been the first of the recovered Aeon's and yet was only the fourth to die, "My prayers go with you child. Please, defeat me."

Black and Gray and Blue.

Two flares of red cutting energy. This time it was Baralai. His sword blade glowing and hot. Shiva too buckled to the floor, following those who had been defeated before her.

Next came the one who had guided Tidus, had guided Paine. The blackness of Bahamut landed on the platform and he looked at her, "You have done well. Soon… eternal rest."

This one Lulu once again attacked. As if she didn't want Yuna to fight at all. That Lulu truly believed that Yuna was too fragile to attack and that attacking the Aeons just like her attacking of Tidus had would break her. Bahamut hunkered over, from her attack and then Rikku too attacked the already ailing figure. Their combined attack was enough and Bahamut faded from this world.

Death was all around her Yuna realized and her grip on her staff tightened further. The wood biting into her skin and causing splinters. Next came the sword master Yojimbo and his sword glinted showing off it's sharpness, "My death shall be an honorable one. Take my life."

Behind her Lulu spoke breaking the tension and silence that hung around them like tendrils of smoke, "Let me have this one too."

Yuna nodded, she knew why. This Aeon represented all that had happened with her and Wakka. It was where this Aeon lay that had given her insight into how far Wakka had fallen. There was nothing Yuna could do to stop her. Lulu was sad and angry, she wanted revenge against those that had destroyed her, "Go." Yuna would let her have this.

Lulu removed her hand from Yuna's shoulder and walked forward. Behind her Nooj seemed to move forward but Paine of all people held him back, "She needs to do this. Let her go."

Lulu raised her hand and fire crackled around her. Then burst after burst of fire surrounded the Aeon and he moaned in pain and yet would not die. Something in Lulu liked it that way. After fire came a sea of water, causing the Aeon to sink to his knees. And yet even as it started to fade her anger would not be held back and a flame of dark energy burst from the ground under him and slammed into his body. Yuna expected her to finish but she would not, and it was only then that she acted, fearing for her friend's mind, "Stop!"

Lulu turned to her; her face a mask of confusion and sorrow, "He ruined everything. He ruined it all. He killed all that I held dear. He killed my SISTER!" Yuna has never seen Lulu this worked up or upset.

For a second time stopped again and Yuna looked up at Lulu, "Sister?"

And then she knew, the woman that they had fought, on their first pilgrimage before getting Yojimbo the first time that woman - The one they called Lady Ginnem had been Lulu's sister, "Lulu… why?"

"Only Wakka knew. I was too young."

Yuna held Lulu's hands and looked up into her eyes, "Rest Lulu. Rest, Paine and I will finish this."

Despite saying that Yuna wasn't sure if she was emotionally prepared to go on. Still for Lulu, she would try. Nooj came up behind them and held out his hand. Lulu took it gladly. Too tried to do anything else. For now, until she must battle again, she would rest. It was after all what she had told Yuna she would do. And when it really came down to it, in the end she would do what Yuna asked of her. It is not her fight, so there was no need. Paine took Lulu's place. "You think you can do this Summoner?"

Yuna didn't have time to think about why Paine was being so formal, "Yes."

Paine smiled, "Good."

And the fight continued, next flowers in bloom fell from the sky and landed on the ground. Showering them in many beautiful pink petals. Like a bouquet of love. This time she heard three voices, old, young, soft and small, "Thank you lady! Gotta say goodbye."

"We go, but do not fear for us. Stop the suffering."

"You have given us the gift of freedom. Don't cry."

And the orb descended once again. Turning life into death and hope into ruin.

Paine stepped forward transforming into that which was her spawn form, eyes turning silver. Now it was her turn. Her sword remained the same however, as she knew it was not time yet. No the time would come later when she would use it, the sword of the fayth. The thing they had named Belief. Instead she lets loose volleys of energy, falling from the sky and landing on the Aeons in front of her.

When she stepped back there was nothing left but pyreflies dancing around the battlefield showing no marks of her attack. Yuna was stunned, "Your power, I didn't know."

"I have hidden it, there was no need to show it."

Auron moved to say something but a glare from Yuna silenced him, she knew what he thought of the secretive girl. But now was not the time for him to be argumentative.

There was one more Aeon left and then they would fight Yu Yevon. On more and then they could finish this completely. Yuna doesn't cry, doesn't think. She's like a machina now, witnessing death had dragged this out of her. Defeat them, and it will end. Defeat them, and it will end. Finish it, Finish it.

And then she summoned darkness. She summoned her guide. The black Aeon of death who had been like a mother to her. Anima's cries sounded from the platform and resonated even into the abyss of the sky empty sky. Her voice was the strongest, and still even before death sounded like bells, "You have listened, and you have learned. Thank you, thank you for everything. We are grateful. Thus I atone."

She knew that Aniaca wanted to say more but Anima was silenced as the orb took over the female Aeon. Turning it a darker shade of black than it already was. Contaminating her further.

Inside however Yuna was hunting - grateful, the word made Yuna so angry. She was just doing what they had asked her to. Doing her duty as a summoner. But now was not the time, anger and feelings of regret could come later. Be like a machina she told herself, be alive yet dead. Latter she could feel. Yet the wood under her hands bit further into her skin. Yet the crease on her brow grew. She would end this!

She raised her staff to the heavens and called down the shining orbs that would send Anima to sleep. They gathered around Aniaca and then returned to sky shooting at the Aeon causing her to moan in pain. Then she too was gone, the last of the Aeons to disappear into nothing.

There was a lull in fighting as Yu Yevon started to prepare for his final attack. And that was when Paine turned around and dropped the bombshell; smiling she looked at them, "Everyone? This is the last time we fight together okay?"

Rikku looked at Paine the news hitting her harder than she thought it would. She had some how thought that Paine would be with them forever, "What?"

There was silence and then Paine spoke again, "I'm saying that it's my time. After we defeat Yu Yevon. Maybe while... I'll disappear."

Lulu looked at the girl perplexed. Lulu had known that Paine would fade with Sin, but Sin was dead. And yet she was still here. Why was she still here? Around them the same thing was passing through everyone's minds, why was Paine still here? Why had this thought just occurred to them now? "What are you talking about?" Lulu asked.

This time Paine looked at Lulu her smile still firmly in place, the sight of it odd on someone as serious as Paine normally wasl. "I'm saying goodbye."

The situation of the time she was doing it perplexed Auron. She had kept so many secrets, had hid so much. So why now? There was no reason to say it now. Rikku beside him had the same ideas but she voiced them differently, "Not now!" more of a command than a question.

Paine turned to them smiling still, "Yes now. I know it sounds selfish but I have a story too. This one is mine."

Suddenly she felt a hand grip her arm and looked down into Yuna's soulful eyes, "Why? Sin is dead, you are alive. Why will you fade?"

Paine only took Yuna's hand off her arm, "Because, in the end, we all fade."

It was a typical Auron non answer coming from Paine's lips but Yuna knew that she had to accept it. And let go, "Then fade. That is your choice I suppose."

Paine smirked down at Yuna's soulful eyes, looking more like herself now that her grin was more of a sarcastic one, "Not a choice. But let's go."

The orb behind them started to shake sending out waves of power around the arena that they were on. It's engery touched everyone and Paine finally turned, giving Yu Yevon her full attention. When the ground cleared the orb was now a small round oval body, a number of small tentacles protruding from it's sides while the symbol of the fayth glowed on its chest. Marked by what it summoned and obsessed over. Paine's eyes hardened, "Hello father."

The sound of wind filled the blank abyss and scattered as the body of Yu Yevon morphed even further surprising both Yuna and those around them. The body shimmered and then a ghostly man appeared in front of them. His voice was smooth and silky, perfect in how it masked his intentions, "Hello my children. You made it, I was worried my human pets would stop you."

"They did not. This is my mission, defeat you." Yuna's voice rang out clearly through the darkness.

Yevon chuckled, "Yes, they were quite sad though - weren't they. One wished for death…"

Seymour

"One was too stuck in the past…"

Wakka

"And one loved too much…"

Tidus

"Yet they were what Spira is. They embodied what the people on this land dreamed of."

"No. The people here dream of freedom. Of a better life, and you are the person that ruined that for them." Yuna told him.

The ethereal figure smiled softly at that. Despite how she wanted to feel angry Yuna felt herself slip into complacency at his grin, "Yes I did didn't I? Quite the motley bunch they were. And I loved them as if they were my own."

It was Auron who first saw the change come over Yuna - who first saw what was happening as she listened to Yu Yevon's voice. Almost as if he was singing a soothing lullaby to her - he the snake charmer and Yuna the snake, "Yuna! Don't pay attention to him!"

Yuna turned towards Auron's face confused, "What do you mean?" her eyes were blown wide the colors of her eyes almost made invisible by the size of her pupil.

And that was all that it took, Yu Yevon smirked and his body started to move. Right towards Yuna, and as she turned back towards him words seemed to float around in her head. Memories.

Tidus

Lulu

Wakka

Auron

Rikku

Kimahri

Paine

Nooj

Baralai

Father

And her world exploded in color. She had known them once. Now they were nothing. She was nothing. Yuna didn't exist. Yuna was a figment of the imagination of those around her. Yuna… who was Yuna? Yuna was dead, a shell.

Yu Yevon

Yuna's head moved side to side and her fingers flexed in and out. And then her eyes opened - both mercury silver. Her shoulders rolled to loosen them and a smirk graced her face. She took two steps, and then two more. Everyone around her was rooted in place and then she looked at Paine, "Well, this is interesting isn't it?" she said.

Rikku looked at Paine, "What's going on?"

But Paine was not paying any attention to Rikku. Instead she could not tear her eyes away from Yuna, "Yes, yes it is." she answered.

Now Rikku's eyes were wide, looking at Paine and then at Yunie, then back to Paine. Almost like a comic. Her bow reached for the sky and could not climb higher, her eyebrows as far as they would go. Her lips trembled, "What's going on?" She struggled to get the words out - repeating herself in the process.

Yuna paid her no mind, "It's been forever since I've had a true body. The little girl hardly put up a fight as I ripped her mind to shreds."

And then Rikku understood, and held onto Auron, "Yunie?" she whispered looking at her cousin.

The creature who was once Yuna looked at Rikku, "Yuna is dead. I am Yu Yevon. And I am going to end this world."

Behind him Yu Yevon heard a gun cock at his head and he turned to look at Nooj, "Not if we stop you."

Yu Yevon licked his lips, "And kill her too?"

For a second Nooj faltered, and that was all that Yevon needed. He swept his legs under Nooj's body and the man fell to the ground gun scattering from his hands. He then grabbed Nooj's machina leg and shot sparks up it, disabling it and leaving Nooj with no range of movement in that limb. The motion of his attack was so different from anything that Yuna had ever done and proved without a shadow of a doubt that it was no longer her. Yevon stepped over Nooj's downed body and picked up the gun Nooj had dropped tucking it into the shorts that Yuna wore, "Thank you. Poor man, a deathseeker who cannot die."

There was the sound of feet as Lulu's moggle waddled toward him. Yevon looked down and put out his hand. The creature stopped and there was a horrible ripping sound as the moogle burst into pieces, Lulu moved to raise her hand to send blots of magic down upon Yevon but Rikku grabbed onto her pulling it downwards, "No! Didn't you hear him? Yuna's in there somewhere!" she said.

Yevon slowly raised his head, "Do you want to see her?"

"No. It will just be a farce."

It was Auron who had spoken, "Ah and then the dead man caught in the world of the living." Yevon's words were cutting and harsh, just as he had intended them to be.

"Don't care. Yuna was a kind girl, you are not Yuna. Thus you must die."

Rikku once again shook her head, "You can't. Please, she has to be in there someplace. Don't give up on her!"

Auron too stopped his prepared assault and looked at Rikku who looked at him with pleading eyes, "Okay. But just for you."

A grin wider than his face spread across Yu Yevon's features, "You're doing my job for me. You are too kind child."

With those words he dashed towards Rikku at great speed. However a bright light came between him and the girl. He came to a dead stop at what was now front of him. Paine stood there Belief in her hands, "Don't touch her."

Malice and joy spread over Yevon's features, "Daughter."

Paine looked at him, silver eyes into silver, "Yes. Now fight me."

Yevon stood back. There was a burst of light and then he too held a sword, "Finally. I have waited to fight my daughter traitor."

"Yes. I imagine you have."

Yevon drew his sword and they were off like shots. Paine's sword clashed against Yevon's, sparks of silver flying off the blade of her sword and his. Rikku wanted to help Paine but a look and head shake from Auron stopped her. In this he trusted Paine completely. Despite his misgivings he knew that Paine was the only person who could save Yuna now. Paine's connection to Yu Yevon was the only thing that stood between Yuna and the abyss.

Paine made to sweep at Yevon but the man dodged out her way. In the body that he had now he was much faster than he should have been. Yuna was small after all, and not very athletic. But his new body was agile and as such Paine's sword missed.

He backed up regrouping and then moved to slash at Paine. His attack unlike hers, hit its mark leaving a wide gash in her side. Paine stepped back and the wound healed quickly blood seeming to evaporate into nothing. In such proximity to her creator wounds like this were nothing. Baralai could only gape silently in shock. Behind him everyone else was the same way. Lulu looked at him, "Is this what Valkyries were like?"

Baralai nodded, "Yes. I'd seen spheres of them as child, but I never thought that… this is fantastic." he found himself slightly smitten with how beautiful Paine was in that moment.

Paine flipped behind Yevon and for a second Belief disappeared. This left Yevon in a small state of confusion. Using this pause she swept her feet under Yevon and he fell to the ground. She stood above him and began to talk, "Yuna I know you are in there. Listen to my voice okay? And trust me."

Yevon looked at her angrily, "I thought I told you. Yuna is dead. This body's mine."

Paine smirked her smile matching those of the some of the worst men that they had ever fought, "You forget one thing father. I am made from you, thus I know what you feel. That body is not just yours. It is mine too, and I know, I can feel that Yuna is alive."

Yevon stood up again, "She is dead!"

But Paine wasn't paying attention, "You got that Yuna? Listen to my voice, and feel. Trust me." her voice was stern, one could not argue against it.

There was no change in who was in control but Paine felt Yuna's conscious flare into life in her mind, "I hear you."

"Do you want to live?."

There was slight hesitation but finally Yuna spoke, her voice strong in Paine's mind, "Yes. Yes. Very much so. It is all I have ever really wanted, I think."

Paine dodged an attack directed at her from Yevon without even thinking. Parrying Yevon's sword away from her body, "What else do you want?"

"I want to see Rikku and Auron, and know that they are happy."

A cut across her cheek. She didn't think about it. Just let it heal. Behind her the others watched, waiting, not knowing what was going on. But knowing that whatever Paine was doing, it was working. Yuna was in there somewhere, and she was fighting back. Paine nodded, "That's it, tell me more."

"I want Lulu to not be so sad. I want her to know that we are there for her. I just want everything, I want Nooj to live, I want Baralai to spread the news of what we are doing here."

Paine nodded, but Yuna was holding something back - something that she had kept buried for a very long time, "Is that all you want?"

And somewhere inside Yevon Yuna understood what Paine was asking and it all spilled out into Paine's mind, a dam finally burst. Paine allowed it though, Yuna had needed this, had needed to confess this for a long time, "I want to see Tidus. I want him to live. I don't want to live in a world without him. It's not fair."

Yuna was sure she sounded like a child but she had watched her friends pair off, one after the other and for once in her life she wanted something that was hers. It wasn't just that though, she had created this mess with Tidus and living without him would be no less a punishment than she deserved. Still she cannot give him up, does not want to give him up. She loved him, after all.

This was what Paine had wanted to hear, to make sure Yuna knew what she really wanted. Where her true dreams lay. Her suspicions confirmed she attacked Yevon with everything she had left, "Good."

There was a searing pain as she stabbed Belief into Yevon's - Yuna's side. Just low enough and shallow enough that it missed all vital organs. So that Yuna would live. Rikku covered her mouth in horror but could not find the will to move from Auron's arms. Lulu watched in shocked sadness, first Wakka, and then Yuna. What would it take she wondered, until all the death and destructions was gone? As she wondered this Paine begun laughing, and Lulu feels herself grow angry, "Why are you laughing? Stop it." Lulu told her.

The sword in Paine's hand was glowing now, brighter and brighter until it seems to light up the world around them. It is then that Lulu understood what was happening. Yevon was Paine's father - she would kill her father. Paine felt Yevon's energy and soul leave Yuna's body and flow into the sword, "Now do you understand father? Your body is my body. Your life is my life."

And she couldn't stop laughing, even as she discerned what was happening to her. Flames blossomed at the edge of the blade, leaping over each other until they surrounded her and she was forced to pull the sword from Yuna. Both to protect Yuna from the fire and because of the pain that seared her burning body. The deed had been done, Yevon was in her mind - the two of them were one.

Summon them!

Summon them!

Summon them!

She spoke so that everyone could hear her, "I'm taking you with me."

Yuna slumped to the ground. Rikku rushed to her and felt for her heartbeat, "She's alive!" Rikku said triumphantly.

There was no time for celebrating and Rikku quickly cured Yuna. Yuna's eyes blinked open slowly and she looked up at Paine, astonished by what she saw. Paine's body was on fire. Burning away slowly - beautifully like a woman reborn. Paine looked at Yuna still laughing, still smiling her eyes burning silver, "He's in me. I'm killing him. I'm dying. I can feel it, it's fantastic. I'm whole Yuna. I'm whole."

"Goodbye Paine, my wonderful friend."

Belief burst into ashes and Paine smiled, "Believe again Yuna. Feel again Yuna."

And then she faded away still laughing, taking her father with her.

The battlefield there were on disintegrated around them and Yuna was in Zanarkand once more, surrounded by the ghost of the dead. And Tidus was on the ground where she had left him - his body unmoving. Yuna sprinted over to him unable to face the truth, "Don't be dead. Don't be dead…"

When he raised his eyes to hers she felt her breath catch, "Yuna?"

"Tidus?"

He stared at her as his eyes slowly closed, facing his imminent death, "Hey."

She gripped her staff, "I have to dance."

"I know."

She made to rise and as she did something that could only be described as a miracle happened. A shape started to shimmered in front of them and for a second she couldn't make out who it was. As the shape formed it became apparent than it should have been obvious.

In front of them Paine's ghostly unsent form stood surrounded by pyreflies. She walked over to Yuna and Tidus were to kneel by them. She placed her hand on Tidus and a flash of energy was transferred from her hand to his body, "A gift from me, don't waste it." she said as her body vanished as swiftly as it had appeared.

Tidus seemed to glow and rise slightly as if taking in a giant lungful of air. And then, his breathing once shallow and terrible begun to steady. His body once so close to death appeared to fill with life. As he settled in Yuna's arms he realized what had just happened, the second chance he had been given. And Yuna realized it too, "Do you think that this is real?" he asked her.

It was only now that Yuna begins to cry. She gripped onto Tidus, feeling his very real very alive skin under her palms. Her tears soaked into his outfit, "Doesn't matter. You're alive. And you're mine, I love you. I love you so much."

Tidus looked down at her and stood up on shaky legs unused to the feel of them under him. He put his hand down and Yuna took it gladly, "I guess it wasn't my time yet."

Nodding Yuna stood with him and then turned to look at all of those who had been with her on her journey, they looked stunned but proud, "Idiot." she smacked him lightly in the shoulder blushing - Tidus teetered but did not fall.

Laughter rung out around them.

A/N: Next chapter is the last chapter :( when I wrote the chapter before this one the first time I was still undecided on if I would kill Tidus or not. However I eventually decided that losing both Tidus and Paine in the same chapter would be a bit too much - thus last minute Paine. It's a bit cheesy but I stand by my decision 100%.