(Author's notes: I had this story made about two years ago when I got myself back into this game. I deleted everything else but this small chapter alone. There was supposed to be two more pages to this but I thought they could have been written better.)

Chapter one:

I should've kept my mouth shut… Although I was drunk so what more could I have done other than ramble off like I lost my mind? I sit here in a cell feeling like I really screwed up big time. So, how did I get in here? Well... This is my story. It all started one week before my trip out into the sea. Some girl showed up looking like she was lost, didn't know where to turn, or who to go to. She said she knew where she was, yet she didn't know how she got here. She looked to be 15 years old. She said her name was Melanie. My wife was happy enough to take her in and take care of her. My son always wanted to be around her, telling her how much of a bad father I was, yet, I was surprised when she didn't agree with him. I remember her saying…

"Jecht isn't all that bad. Why does he pick on you? To toughen you up! That's why. He says he's the best… Well, he wants you to be better."

Yeah… Those words stuck with me for some time… My son said she was wrong. She just smiled. When that day came for leaving, she wanted to come with. I asked her why, she gave no response other than, "There is a reason that I cannot explain, but I know I need to." It was just a one day trip out to training. I didn't question it and I just let her come. I regret that day… As I sit here in my cell, I question myself as to how I got here to begin with. Spira… What was this place? How far was I from home? Everyone kept telling me I was too close to Sin and its toxins got to me. That, or I was just so drunk I was talking nonsense… I wasn't gonna stay in this cell for long. I could hear the guards talking. Braska, whoever he was, was making his way to see me. This is where my story begins…

"Who are you?" I asked as they finally made their appearance.

"You are the one they call Jecht from Zanarkand, are you not?" Braska spoke calmly as if nothing was wrong at all.

I couldn't help but to look at his getup and think how ridiculous he looked in it. But I responded without a care, "What of it?"

"Watch your tongue, naive," a man somewhat in that red haori spoke right back at me.

"Ahh. Forgive me. I am Braska. I will be going on a pilgrimage and will be heading to Zanarkand. We come to bring you with," Braska told me.

I stood up. "Sounds sweet. So what's the catch?"

"That easy to see, was it? We would like you to come along, though it will be a dangerous trip… If we do reach Zanarkand, you will be able to go home! We think… And my prayers will be answered. What say you?"

Finally, I was heading home. "Great! Let's go!"

"Then it's settled."

"But I must protest… This drunkard, a guardian?" His words sounded as if he was a bit discouraged, whoever he was.

"Hey! You wanna step in here and stay that?!" I yelled at him.

"What does it matter?" Braska now asked. "No one could possibly believe that a fallen summoner, wed to an Al Bhed would defeat Sin. This is what they say, No one expects us to succeed."

"Braska, Sir…"

"Let's show them they're wrong… A fallen summoner, a man from Zanarkand , a warrior monk doomed to obscurity for refusing the hand of the priest's daughter. What delightful irony it would be if we defeated Sin!"

"Stop gabbing and get me out of here!" Boy was I growing impatient.

Even being free, I couldn't help but wonder… What ever happened to that girl? I haven't seen her since we got here, or at least I think she would be here… Before we left, my wife thought of adopting her since she stayed with us for a while, not having a home or family around. I hope she is alive…

"Free at last…" I had to say those words out loud. It did feel good.

"Now, Jecht. I am in your hands till we reach Zanarkand."

"Right, right. So… What's a summer-ner anyway?"

"We can call forth a powerful being known as Aeons." Braska seemed a bit cheery. "It's what a summoner does and it's the only way to defeat Sin."

"Sin?" I asked. Hey, it's not like I knew anything about their world.

So they told me… They told me everything I needed to know about what a summoner does and why. So, a thought occurred to me. Why not record most of the stuff going on and I could show my kid and wife back at home. Plus I wanted to find that girl… I wanted to know… whether she was alive or not…

"Hey. What's your name anyway?" I asked the other guy finally. I guess I forgot while back at cell, but I didn't care then. I just wanted out.

"Auron." He looked at me a little strange. "What is that you are taking with you?"

"Well, you said it was going to be a long trip. We'll be seeing a lot of neat things right? So I thought I would record it all in this and show it to my wife and kid, you know…"

"This is no pleasure cruise." Auron just sort of glared at me as he stood there.

"Hey, Braska. Aint this supposed to be a grand occasion? Where are the cheering fans, the crying women?"

"This is it. There are just too many goodbyes. People think twice about leaving."

"Well if you say so… It better be a lot more colorful when we get back." I was feeling confident on the next part that I said. "A parade for Braska, vanquisher of Sin!"

At least I got a chuckle out of Braska. "We should be going… Day will break soon."

"Before we go," I interrupted. "Have you guys seen a girl around here? You know, long blond hair, blue eyes, goes by the name of Melanie?"

"No. Why?" Braska responded.

"She was with me on that boat… I was hoping she would end up in the same place I was. So… Haven't seen her, huh?"

"We might see her along the way. Our first stop is Besaid Island. We have a lot of land to cover."

"I guess you're right…" It wasn't something I wanted to hear.

"Who is she?" Auron finally asked.

So I told them everything I knew about her. How she ended up in Zanarkand and how puzzled she seemed. I was thinking… Maybe she was a link? Possibly a connection? Ah, who cares… I was going home. But I wasn't going to go back alone. But that day, we left heading onto a boat, I couldn't sleep either. It was days before we reached this island.

"Auron… I been thinking… This girl I told you about…"

"Think she might be dead?" Auron asked.

"No, it's not that… I realized something. You two act somewhat alike. You two would get along great! She might make a good wife for you one day!"

"Stop joking around. There is no time for games."

"Who said I was kidding?" I know I made him mad. I didn't care… I was laughing kidding around but I couldn't help but be honest at the same time.

"I don't have time for romance either…"

"Ooh… Touchy… I didn't think things were gonna be serious business for you."

"It is serious."

"Then what are you going to do once Sin is defeated? Learn to settle down! Make some little Aurons or something!"

Braska was just laughing away…