Author's notes: This is my first FFIX fanfiction. I love the game way too much, yet I've never really ventured into the fandom. I've only ever read one fanfiction!

But inspiration just came to me and I had to write this down. It's based on the words of "Black Mage No. 56" in the Black Mage Village.

Remember to review!

Broken?

They woke up together.

It just happened. One day Number 56 opened his eyes. He didn't know where he was or how he had come to be there. He looked around him, trying to understand. That was when he saw the people.

He didn't know how he knew it, but Number 56 knew that the creatures lying on the ground were not like him. They were older, taller, smarter…human.

And lifeless. Broken.

Number 56 was scared.

He didn't like to see the humans so cold and still. He bent down to the one that lay at his feet. He talked to her (for somehow he knew she was female) and he nudged her gently with his hand.

She did not wake.

Number 56 raised his head, and found himself face to face with his mirror.

Startled and surprised Number 56 blinked his golden yellow eyes. The other did the same. Curiously Number 56 reached out his hand to touch his brother. His action was mimicked perfectly.

And so the two new born mages stood on the battle field, scared, confused, yet for the first time very much alive.

They fled together…

Number 56 was afraid of the death that surrounded him. He worried that the humans who were broken had been hurt because of him.

His brother, Number 36, held the same fear in his eyes.

Number 36 reached for Number 56's hand.

"Let's run away," he said. "Let's find a place where these humans are not there. Let's find a place where they can't hurt us…and we can't hurt them."

And so they did…

They lived together…

It was rumours that led them there. The Village of the Black Mages. It was a whole continent away from the battleground on which they had awoken.

It was distant, hidden, safe.

There golden eyed brethren welcomed them gladly.

There was no confusion there, only peace. There was an inn, and shops. There was even a farm, where there was excitement about a baby Chocobo that was due to hatch.

Number 56 and Number 36 were the very best of friends.

They lived in a little house together and worked together at the item shop. When there was trading to be done with the dwarves of Conde Petie the two would volunteer…and so they saw the outside world…

…together.

And then one day Number 36 stopped moving.

One of the older mages explained to Number 56 that his friend was broken. He told him that Number 36 would have to go under the ground.

Number 56 was confused. Number 36 needed to wake up. If Number 36 slept under the ground how could he go to work or go on an adventure to Conde Petie to find new items? If Number 36 slept under the ground he would get dirty. If Number 36 slept under the ground who would Number 56 talk to?

But Number 36 didn't wake up…