False Hope
By Draff – skyblitz@ignmail.com
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Jecht!!
How could you?

I gaped in horror as I saw Lord Braska being savagely torn apart, as though he were the dinner of a thousand hungry sharks, tearing away mercilessly at his pink flesh. I closed my eyes and remembered the time I was laying on the bed of grass, escaping to a world without Sin, a world with perpetual calm. I can still remember the white clouds reaching down and touching my skin, embracing my soul, as though inviting me to heaven. Alas, it was only a dream, for the clouds were but the crisp air, biting at my skin. I lazily opened my eyes.

No.

What? I asked out loud. The voice escaped, but to what did it objectify? To what did it oppose? Was it mere irrationality among a flurry of my own irrational thoughts? No, I thought. I sat on beach along a sandy cliff and listened to the seagulls laugh, the oceans sing, and the wind chant. It was as though the elements were singing the Song of Prayer. But soon, the oceans wailed, the winds wept and the seagulls cried.

No!

I heard it again, but what did it want? What did I want? The oceans roared as pain was prevalent throughout. JECHT! What are you doing? I ran along the beach, alongside the seagulls, alongside the waves, alongside the dolphins swimming along What are you doing? A tear trickled down my face, as I clutched on to my sword. You can't! You can't! The wind picked me up as though my will, my thoughts and my desires were felt throughout. You can't! I cried, and waved my sword throughout the air, hopelessly attempting to draw his attention.

NO.

The wind had abandoned me. The seagulls had abandoned me. The oceans had abandoned me. I looked back and stopped. I stood looking at the hazy sunset. I fell on to my knees, and began to sob uncontrollably, as I buried my face in the sad, attempting to block out all happiness that had brought joy to everyone else. I wanted to seclude myself and live in the dark, the black, the absent. I wiped the sand from off my forehead.

Sorry, my friend.

Lord Braska? I ran and ran. I could feel his pain, and sense his sorrow. Where was I taking myself? I I saw him, on the ground. I approached him and saw his frail body. No I moaned. I took my shirt off, and wiped the sand off before covering his body with it. I wanted to blame someone. I needed to blame someone, yet there was no one within reach, no one to blame, not even Sir Jecht. I laid down alongside Lord Braska and ran my fingers along the sand. I stared up into the night sky and closed my eyes with flaccid hope.

LADY YUNALESCA!!

I woke up and ran. I ran with fervour, with intense emotion. It gave me the ability to fly, fly amongst the stars, as though time ceased to exist. I approached Lady Yunalesca.

Why must you torment the people of Spira? Why? I cried.

Hope is what Spira desires. That is what must be given to Spira. She replied, in an almost sadistic tone.

At what cost? A temporary reprieve of the inevitable rebirth of Sin?

Hope keeps us motivated to live, motivated to-

So you sacrifice the lives of those devoted to Yevon for false hope?!

Ah, it appears you have lost all hope. Do you dare defy the traditions of the people?

I was filled with inexplicable rage. I could feel my veins pulsating as I clutched my sword. My eyes were burning with wrath.

You don't understand my pain!!

I stared into her eyes; her emotionless expression angered me even further. Why? Was the pilgrimage meaningless? I knelt down and punched the ground with a firm fist. Blood began to dribble down from the palm of my hands. I began to cry.


I drew my sword, and ran. I felt the breeze brush up against my cheek. Braska Jecht Do you remember the time we were all jovially sitting around the campfire near the ruins of Zanarkand and you both asked me what the hell I was doing? What I was doing, was trying to save the world, but as soon as we reached Zanarkand, I realized that I wasn't trying to save the world. I was trying to save you... not the child that lived next to me, not that neighbour who would torment me to no end about the jug that hung from off my belt. No. I was trying to save the world from you You How insignificant those words are, now that you're gone.


I lunged fourth and pierced her abdomen. I flew back, and saw a flash of bright light.


Am I in a world free from Sin? Am I finally liberated? Have I liberated Braska and Jecht? I smiled. I could feel their souls. Are they free? I wondered..