FINAL FANTASY X-0
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The trilogy of Final Fantasy X is complete, with this prequel to the original, detailing High Summoner Braska's pilgrimage to obtain the Final Aeon and to defeat Sin. From Bevelle to Zanarkand, the epic journey takes Braska and his guardians on an adventure unlike the world has ever seen before...
I do not own any of the characters mentioned within this story, and it is a non-profitable piece of work.
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Part I - The Jecht Shot
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The streets of the great city of Zanarkand were usually packed full of people, people shopping, people selling, people just out for a walk. Even at night there were thousands and thousands of people around, restaurants and bars open for all. But not tonight. The streets were deserted, not a single person walked by in the streetlights, the shops all closed, darkness filled each and every one.
A newcomer would have thought that the city slept at that precise moment, but a moment later would have changed their mind. The faint roar of a crowd swept down the tarmac surfaces, originating from the centre of the city.
From the Blitzball stadium. Home of the Zanarkand Abes!
The stadium roof slowly opened, huge mechanical gears swinging the roof open, two halves moving apart, letting the night air in, and the light out. Lights flooded the stadium, yellow, red and black, the colours of the Abes. It didn't matter to the home crowd who the opponents were, the Abes always won! Thousands of supporters lined the seating area, but none were seated, every one stood and cheered at the start of the new Blitz season. The most popular sport of Spira. The ONLY sport of Spira, most people would say.
Down in the team rooms the Abes psyched up. High fives were exchanged rapidly as the team of 6 lined up before the door. The player at the front opened the door and stepped out. Hair as black as the night held back by a red headband shook as he moved, black stubble lined the bottom of his face, dark eyebrows above his eyes, a piercing gaze that frightened opponents and teammates alike. A three pointed black tatoo covered his chest, the sign of the team. He was Jecht, star of the Abes, and he knew it.
They lined up in formation inside the sphere, all of them seated around a huge circle of concrete. Another hollow circle moved slowly around it - the energy created as the two circles spun around each other would keep the water suspended in a perfect sphere between them. Jecht sat at one side, the star striker, top scorer for the last 3 seasons. The crowd screamed and shouted and chanted, the arena became a cauldron of noise, the stadium literally shook with the noise. Jecht grinned, he loved these moments.
The circles hummed as energy filled them, water began to appear, gradually covering all of the 12 players, a perfect sphere of liquid, a triangular goal at each end. Everyone was ready. The Zanarkand Abes against the Zanarkand Poles was about to begin...
The horn blared, its high pitched scream filled the area, and the game began. The Blitzball powered up into the centre, and the opposition player flung himself at it, getting the first touch, but not for long. Jecht slammed into him, his left arm connecting with the man's stomach, the black armour he wore there was for a reason. The player inevitably dropped the ball, and Jecht grabbed it, flinging it back towards his teammates as he raced forward in the water for space. The ball flew towards him a moment later, a pinpoint pass that no opponent got anywhere near. Jecht moved up in the water, grabbing the ball before hammering it at the top of the goal with his right foot.
Not unusually, it went in, the goalkeeper diving, but the ball had passed him before he knew it. The klaxon sounded, the crowd cheered louder. 1-0 within seconds! Jecht turned and moved back to his team again, high fives all round. That was just a teaser for them!
Kick off again, and the lead guy took it again. Jecht spun at him, but his opponent had read his move early, and dodged the boot aimed at his head, before powering the ball at a teammate. Play continued, a fast-paced game with numerous kicks, elbows and shoves aplenty. The ball came at Jecht from defence, and he twisted round to grab it, when he saw two Pole defenders moving towards him with speed. He thought quickly, time for the real Jecht!
Stretching left, he took the ball in one hand, then flung it as hard as he could at the lead defender's body. It hit her in the stomach, the force of it sending them spinning off out of the globe, the woman sent sprawling into the third row of the crowd, followed by a spray of water. Jecht wasn't watching though. He waited for the ball to return, and swung his right boot at it, booting it at the face of the second player. By now the crowd knew what was coming. The man couldn't move away in time, the ball catching him on the forehead, and sent spinning up high. Jecht was already rising, and spinning as he did so. The ball approached him, and he emerged from the fast spin perfectly, his boot connecting with the ball with as much power as he could muster. The ball spun in the water as it travelled, and the goalkeeper was never going to save it. No-one ever had!
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7-2 was the final score. The Abes had annihalated yet another team, and Jecht emerged from the stadium a hero yet again. He strode out of the main gate, between the two huge statues that had stood there for centuries, to a large crowd of people chanting his name.
"Great game Jecht!"
"The legendary Jecht Shot again! Fantastic game!"
"Jecht! Jecht!"
"Can I have your autograph?"
He smiled, but though he liked the title of 'the greatest Blitzball player ever', he hated the publicity. The idiots surrounding him, talking to him like he was their best mates. He moved past the crowd, no doubt leaving some disappointed that he hadn't spoken, or performed his shot for them one more time. He could do that shot with his eyes closed, it was so easy, but he knew that it would wear thin if he did it every minute of the day. He would keep them waiting until the next match! Fans were fickle, easy to manipulate, and he would knew how to keep them in suspense.
He made his way home, though he didn't know whether his wife would be there yet, as she'd been a spectator at the match, with that kid of his. No 'backstage' pass, no special treatment, she hated all of that, she just wanted to be a normal supporter, and he loved her for that, as well as everything else!
He swaggered in through the front door, hoping to see her there, but she wasn't around. He was disappointed, but not surprised. She'd be back a bit later, probably trying to stop Tidus crying. He always cried, why couldn't he be a proper man like his father! He pushed thoughts of his son away, and pulled off his clothes throwing them in a pile, with the exception of his black armour for his arm, which he placed gently on its own shelf, treating it like any true Blitz player treats their kit. Then he climbed into bed, the loss of energy spent in the game was finally kicking in. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he was asleep.
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And that's the first chapter done! Any suggestions, or if I've made any factual errors so far, then feel free to mention them, hope you enjoyed it so far!
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