Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 9 or any of its characters, nor am I making money from this. I only own the nameless genome and the idea- everything else belongs to SquareEnix.

Prologue

Survival

People always want a definition for themselves- they want an identity and a strong sense of self. For some, their loved ones defined them- for others their skills sculpted who they were. It wasn't something one could decide in a day, as some could realize their self-worth near the end of their lives. At the same time, it was very rare for a child to figure their self out before adulthood.

I was only twenty-four years old, but I knew what I was. I experienced more than I should have as a child, but it was enough to define me: I was a survivor.

As Terra began to decay and as our people began to suffer from the lack of food, clean air, and clean water, I lived on. I was part of a tribe of traveling actors, and while it was sometimes difficult to meander through a dying world with raging animals seeking food, we were able to scrounge up a living better than what most lower class citizens could accomplish.

We played for the nobles, scientists, and leaders- anyone with the great wealth. As long as they needed entertainment, they were willing to pay and at least provide safe lodgings during our visit. It was through our shows that I met my husband- a fairly influential duke. He allegedly fell in love with me the moment he laid eyes on me, but I honestly doubted it. It had to have been nothing more than lust, as 'love at first sight' was a very dumb notion.

He quickly bartered with my family to have me marry him and the deal was reluctantly struck- my family only let me go under the misguided belief that I would lead a better life as a duchess. I was only eighteen then.

It was a fast marriage and the beginning of a very loveless union. I discovered that he had three wives before me- each one possessed the beauty of a rose in full bloom …until they bore him daughters. Nothing was ever uttered aloud, but his past wives seemed to meet ill-fated accidents alongside their children. I could have been next, were it not for the fact that my first and only child was darling little boy. Through him, my son, I survived yet again.

And then it happened- at first it appeared that a plague had swept across the globe. People disappeared and many cities became abandoned. When guards were sent to investigate, they vanished as well. Whatever it was, it claimed everything from animals to the most influential figures of our society. I'd even lost my family to the strange mystery. Before long, everything and everyone was gone, save for Bran Bal, where I lived with my husband and son.

When our time came, a man in dark armor came before us and claimed to be the savior of Terra. He said that he would restore our planet to its former glory and that one day we would walk upon her lush earth again. It sounded too good to be true- and it was. No sooner than after that almost manic speech, the deadened land rose and opalescent roots attacked us.

It was utter chaos- there was screaming everywhere and a feeling of total helplessness as the roots wrapped around everyone and pulled them into the ground. My six-year-old child was ripped from my arms before I was restrained in the same manner. For some reason, my descent into the earth was slowed, allowing me to see the dark clad stranger as he approached me.

His face was ancient- like a wise wizard from fairytales, though he was in the wrong attire. His eyes were hollow, like two black voids, and his voice was clear despite the aged tone to it. In that split second, I was able to recognize him. He was that madman- one of my grandfathers from the tribe. He turned away from our teachings and became a scientist in a vain attempt to save the planet. Though thanks to his insane ramblings of 'finding immortality', he managed to dishonor our tribe and make a mockery of us.

"Fear not, young one. Just surrender your soul and you will be born anew."

He was the last thing I had seen before the darkness consumed me. I wasn't sure what was going on- or why. I tried to scream, but my voice was stifled and I couldn't breathe.

…And yet somehow, I survived this, too. But at what price?