A/N: I'm back! All characters you don't recognize are mine, and all those you do aren't. I'm pretty sure you can read this if you haven't played Final Fantasy X, but do message me if you have any questions.

Disclaimer: Alright, I DO NOT own, or live in some fantasy world where I think I own, make money off of, or in any way infringe on the rights and property of J.K. Rowling of Square Soft Inc., the Harry Potter series, or the Final Fantasy game(s) I may reference in this fanfiction. So don't sue me, please.

Chapter 1:

The Spectral Keeper roared in rage, the shock of Dian's hit making the red creature flinch towards me. I let loose another Blizzaga, panting and waving my staff in a smooth arc. Tired or not, sloppy spell casting would get us killed.

Dian grinned at me, charging up another Quick Hit, as the Keeper swung a claw at me in retaliation. I ducked to another glymph, grimacing when the light half blinded me. I now stood opposite my guardian, with the Keeper facing Dian.

The battle had been going on for some ten minutes now, though it seemed both longer and shorter to me. The Keeper seemed to be tiring at last, and I was sure a few more hits would do it. The Keeper was already fading, pyreflies streaming out of a few spots in its thick, armored skin. I took a deep breath, and wondered if I had enough power left in me for a Holy spell to finish the damn thing off. I decided not to risk it. The beast wasn't the only one tiring, and Dian couldn't finish this fight alone.

With another roar, the Keeper flapped its leathery wings to raise itself up higher, spreading its claws wide. I watched in horror as it swung both at Dian. Move damn it! Move!

Dian looked up in time to see it coming, eyes widening. He reached down to move to another glymph, a split second too late. The Keeper's claws connected with a sickening crunch, piercing him in both sides.

I think I screamed then. I'm not sure now. I do know that a Holy spell of epic proportion ripped out of me, reducing the Keeper to a burst of pyreflies before Dian hit the ground. I rushed around the pit where the Keeper had been, the blue void where we had fought becoming Zanarkand Temple again. I already had a Curaga spell on my lips, but even then I knew it was too late.

I reached him, crying. He smiled at me, less energy in it than the battle-ready one he had given me earlier. My hand shook as I gently moved a lock of black hair out of his green, green eyes.

"I will defeat Sin. I will," I said. His smile turned a little crooked.

"I know," he managed, breath rasping in his throat. Then he went still.

I gently closed my brother's eyes, standing to my feet. The only thing left for me to do for him was to make sure he didn't become one of the fiends that haunted this place. My staff twirled, bangles spread around the intricate engraving. His pyrefly lifted from his chest, circling me once as it rose, and brushed insubstantially against me cheek where another tear had slipped down. I had done all I could for Dian. Now I would do all I could for Spira.

I walked steadily to the lift, and as I rode down, I took a last glance at Dian. After I had received the final summoning, I would return for his body. Then, I would defeat Sin.

In the chamber below, the shade of a priest stood over a broken faith. This could not be the final summoning, nor was he Yunalesca. He watched me walk by in silence, and I passed through a shining blue entrance into a large hall with pyreflies swirling through the air. Lady Yunalesca stood at the top of the stairs on the far end of the ancient room.

"You cannot pass into here, my child," she said. I drew myself into a stronger stance, meeting her eyes dead on.

"I have completed my journey. I have obtained every aeon and passed every test laid before me. It is now my right to obtain the final aeon and defeat Sin," I replied, chin up.

"This is true enough. But the final aeon is not an aeon you may receive by any amount of prayer. You must have a bond with someone, someone who will become the final aeon so that the light of that bond can outshine Sin in its brilliance. So Sin is defeated, and hope returns to Spira. Without someone beside you, you cannot receive the final aeon," Yunalesca continued gently.

I shook my head, "No! All that time, all that work, Dian's death, all for nothing?"

"I am sorry, my child, but so it must be. I have no aeon to give you."

"I must do something! I came all this way, willing to die, willing to sacrifice myself for the people of Spira, even knowing that it would someday return, that cannot be for nothing!"

"Such a true desire is never for nothing," she paused, giving me a considering look, "You have no one now, do you, child?"

I watched her, carefully, wondering, "No. My parents were killed by Sin long ago. When they died, Dian took me to Bevelle. I grew up there, and Dian and I had only each other."

"Hmm. What is your name?"

"Palme," I replied, softly.

"Palme. I can yet allow you to help people, though not the people of Spira. There is nothing you could for them, save perhaps return to a temple and work as a priestess. There you would only be able to watch as you trained young summoners do what you so wanted to, watching as every one you sent out died in the battles of Spira. Such would be a waste of your abilities, and of one as true of heart as yourself."

"What… could I do then?" I asked carefully.

Yunalesca considered me for a moment longer, and then seemingly came to a decision, "I have it within my power to transport you to a place where your powers could be used to battle another evil, one every bit as terrible as Sin. Your true desire is to protect people, is it not? Even if they are not of Spira?"

I did not hesitate, "Yes. I protect all people, all races, and all the inhabitant of the world."

She seemed to accept my answer, "Then I offer you a choice. You may return to your people, and live as a priestess, or you may go to this new world I spoke of. There your powers would not be wasted. You could even expand them past the black and white mage craft you now have. The people there are under siege by a dark sorcerer and his followers. You could help them, protect them, and accept their people as your own."

"But…?"

"But once there, you would be beyond my power. You could never return to Spira."

I swallowed. Never? Never see Bevelle again, never walk through Spira again? Live all my life away from it? I thought for a moment. Never have to face the pitying looks that accompany failed summoners. Never have to see all the places that would remind me of Dian again. No living alone in the world, as a closed of priestess in some temple. Really my decision was easy.

"I accept. But what of Dian? And my aeons?" I worried my lip.

Yunalesca gave me a gentle look, "I will care for Dian. He will be buried on the outlook facing Zanarkand. So have I always cared for those who reached Zanarkand and were slain. Your aeons will still answer your call. They are bound to you, and that bond will reach through the void."

"Thank you," I said sincerely.

"You are welcome. I will transport you shortly. But before you go, I wish to give you some things. Will you receive them?"

"Of course."

"Then here," several objects flew towards me from the temple proper. A moogle, a cactuar doll, and a pendent that Dian had worn, and I had not thought to take, "You will have need of these, as well as your staff. And the dead should not be forgotten."

I smoothed my thumb over the familiar wood. It was simple really, just a circle of wood with our name and those of our parents around the edges, with the symbol of Yevon in the center. I slipped the leather thong attached to it over my hair sticks and flipped my long brown braids over it, tucking the pendant into the breast of my pale blue top. I nodded my thanks.

Making sure the dolls were in one arm and my staff firmly in the other hand, Yunalesca nodded her silver head in return. She raised her arms high and wide, opening herself to her power. The pyreflies in the room rushed to her, swirling around her and then me, faster and faster until the hall blazed with the light of it. Then all went black.

When I woke, I was laying on my side, sunlight streaming through a large open window and into my face. I had dreamed as I passed through the void. Yunalesca had left me with one last message.

This is as far as I can take you. You will wake in your new world. The only thing I can tell you is that they give two names there. If I may, I would give that name. I name you Palme Diandar, or of Dian, for if you were not of your brother, you were surely of his heart. Peace be with you, my child.

I sat up carefully, having an awful headache. Palme Diandar. How strange. I looked around and my eyes fell on an old man with a long white beard and half moon spectacles. I tilted my head a bit when I saw he was wearing long, heavy, blue robes with silver stars scattered across them. Ooh, he would roast in Spira. Even the priests wear lighter robes than that. How cold is this place?

"It's good to see you awake. Lady Yunalesca did not say you'd be asleep for two days," his eyes twinkled merrily, "I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You are most welcome here, Palme Diandar."

TBC

A/N: Okay, so end of chapter one! Woot! Worry not my dear, I already have more written, and although this is exam week, it is followed by a long Christmas break, so you should see more of this soon.

One little note, yes, I totally made up Professor Sprout's first name. It's not in the books as far as I can tell, and it wasn't on a fairly comprehensive site I use for on the spot references. So, since I couldn't find it, Silvia she shall be.