Hello! Chevaliers here, posting for the first time! This is my Final Fantasy X Fanfic that I have developed over a long period of time, and after much thought, I finally put it into writing! Thank you to my partner in crime, Airumel, for her editing expertise and input!


PROLOGUE

The world of Spira was full of technology and machina. Two city-states, the machina-heavy Bevelle and the Summoner magic city of Zanarkand, were in the middle of what would be known as the Machina War.

As the war accelerated, countless lives were lost. Hope that the world would ever be at peace dimmed. Then, at the what looked like darkest moment, a giant beast rose out of the sea and obliterated Zanarkand, wiping an entire civilization from existence. The Machina War had ended, but a new one was just beginning.

The terrible beast, called Sin, persisted, and began to threaten all human life in Spira. As they had no explanation of where it came from or why it arbitrarily destroyed villages and cities alike, the common folk named it such believing it was retribution sent from the divine for their ancestor's dependency on machina. As people began to despair, the church began to teach that by following the teachings of Yevon, they would one day atone for their ancestor's crimes and Sin would vanish. Hope was rekindled.

Yunalesca, a skilled summoner and a survivor from Zanarkand, and her husband, Zaon, travelled back to Zanarkand's remains where she turned Zaon into a powerful Fayth, dubbed the Final Aeon, and defeated Sin. All of Spira rejoiced over the news and for a short while, the world was finally at peace.
It wouldn't last.

Within a few months, whispers of the foul creature spread across the land as small villages across the land were destroyed without explanation. Sin had been reborn.
Yunalesca's victory had only brought about The First Calm.

During the following decades, Bevelle's leadership slowly changed into a religious organization centered around "Yevon", a benevolent teacher who teaches Spirans the ways to atone for their faults and reliance on machina.

An increase in the number of summoners followed. Many would make a pilgrimage to Zanarkand, hoping to obtain the Final Aeon, and vanquish Sin like their idolized Lady Yunalesca had before them. Most would fail, either losing their will or their lives. Only a talented few completed the trip and were able to bring about another short period of calm. Despite the inevitable return of Sin, the people of Spira have never given up the hope that Sin will one day be gone forever...


Evening began to fall on the city of Bevelle, the same as it has been for 1000 years since the appearance of Sin. Now the largest city in Spira and the heart of Yevon, it is the starting block of many a summoner. Yet on this night, the city will be the starting place of a summoner's pilgrimage that will provoke change in the endless cycle that is Sin.

CHAPTER 1

"What do you mean he isn't coming?!" the Bevelle High Priest's exasperated shouts echoed throughout the room. "I'll see to it that he will be turned out of the Warrior Monks!" his face was beet red with anger. He continued to curse a certain man's name until he ran out of curses.

Taking in a deep breath and slowly releasing it, the High Priest allowed his anger to subside. He rose from his seat in the main hall, still fuming, a letter clenched tightly in a fist.

The timid messenger, who had the poor luck of delivering the bad news to the High Priest, watched his superior exit the room through a door on the left. It seemed the High Priest was headed toward his living quarters inside the Bevelle palace. Waiting a few moments, the messenger assured himself that the priest was not returning before excusing himself. The man had such a temper!


"I wonder what father's big surprise will be..." A young woman with striking white hair, sat in front of a vanity next to her bedside in anticipation.
Just then, the High Priest, entered the room. He brought with him an aura of gloom, but it was a facade so his daughter would not see his temper. He sat by her on the bedside and took her hands.

"Ophellia, I am sorry..." he began as he hung his head.

"Sorry for what, father?" she asked in confusion.

"I was planning on making that infernal- I mean, I was going to make Auron of the Warrior Monks, your husband," he explained heavily.

"Oh father, don't be upset, I will not complain about who you pick for me." she placed her hand on his in a comforting manner.

"No, Ophellia, I had already given him the offer... But he has turned you down. I clearly mistook him for a selfless man, he thinks he is better than me- I mean you..."

"Oh... I see." Ophellia withdrew her hands from her fathers. She could not help but feel a little hurt. This must be what it felt like for the other suitors her father rejected.

She had always seen Auron in the halls of Bevelle, she even caught glances of him in the training yard, where she was never allowed. They had barely exchanged words, except when he would acknowledged her with a head nod as they passed by, making her heart jump. She would certainly have not minded marrying him.

"I guess it is in his best interest." she tried to cheer up. "I'm sure there will be someone better..."

Her father looked up and a smile crossed his face for a moment. "Ah yes, don't worry my dear. I have other promising men in mind. Perhaps..." he began to mutter to himself. "I will see you at supper." he soon left, scratching his chin in thought.

"I really don't understand why..." she thought quietly. A part of her was dying to figure out why Auron had rejected her. She knew that it would be childish to go chasing after him for answers, Auron did not seem like a man of patience. "No... His reasons are his own. Perhaps he loves someone else."

Although she had never see him talk with any other women, she became suspicious if perhaps he met this hypothetical lover in secret. It did seem plausible that Auron would be the type to feel embarrassed to show true feelings for someone. He always seemed to put work before anything else after all.

Ophellia knew it didn't matter anymore; everything had been said and done. It wasn't like she'd had her hopes up; her father had not even breathed a word about marrying his only daughter off to Auron. The thought had never crossed her mind as a serious consideration.

"Oh, I give up!" she threw her hands in the air. Thinking about Auron's reasons had now turned into a problem and that would not let her go. She knew she was being foolish, but after being sought after by so many men, she had to know why there was one so different from the rest.


As night had already fallen, she knew there would not be much time to sort this out before dinner. She exited her room quietly, trying not be noticed as she silently trotted down the halls. The tresses of her dress flowed gracefully behind and her long, elegant hair bounced gently with each quickening step.

"Ah, where might you be off to in a hurry at this hour?" a tall man in summoner robes had stopped her.

"L-Lord Braska!" she exclaimed. She had been so absorbed that she had not noticed him watching her rush down the stone hallway. "I was on my way to... to..." she could not come up with a reason anymore.

"This wouldn't be about Auron rejecting you, would it?" he said in a kind tone, a gentle smile on his face.

"O-Oh, you heard about that?" she said, her cheeks flushing slightly in embarrassment.

"Yes, I was with Auron when your father offered him the proposal." he laughed gently.

"I bet he didn't even think twice before answering..." her eyes now gazed at the floor as her face heated up.

"I cannot say, it's hard to read Auron... Take it from me, he is a mystery. There is much I don't know about him and we are good friends. Rest assured it is not because he does not like you that he turned it down." Braska tried to lift her spirits.

"What a relief." Ophellia laughed at her own ridiculousness for worrying so much.

"Perhaps it was best that I caught you before you ran into him. He has been very unpleasant since the proposal."

"Maybe I should apologize for my father's eagerness..." she worried again.

"You have nothing to apologize for. Now, go enjoy your supper, you are better off forgetting all of this." Braska gave a hearty chuckle.

"Your daughter is very lucky to have a father like you." Ophellia thanked the summoner and bowed humbly.

"Thank you, Ophellia. But do not be disheartened, I'm sure you will meet a nice man someday soon. I must be off, I have something I should be getting back to." he returned her bow and continued on his way leaving the white-haired girl alone in the dim hall.

Ophellia was relieved to hear that Auron did not hate her. She was not looking to rush into marriage after all she was not ready for marriage, but she still could not stand the thought of Auron rejecting her for some unknown fault. Now that she knew he wasn't, she could go back to wondering who her father would pick next. This was her lot in life and what she had been brought up to do. Her status as the only daughter of Beville's High Summoner meant that the man she married would rise to higher power; a man would not marry her for love. Ophellia had accepted this fact at a young age, so she hardly felt any resentment towards the matter.

Her stomach gave a small growl bringing her back to the moment. It was almost dinner time and it looked like she would be late if she didn't hurry! Lifting her skirts, Ophellia rushed back to the main hall to join her father.


Ophellia ate her dinner quietly, not saying a word as her father talked with the usual spattering of travelers. This was usual, she would be seen but not heard, just like a proper lady.

When the plates were empty and cups drained, the white haired girl decided not to return to her room right away. An overwhelming urge had seized her to get some fresh air.

Going to one of her favorite spots on a higher floor, she entered a nearby balcony that overlooked the city of Bevelle. She gazed down at the city streets, feeling her hair tousled by the light evening wind. Peaceful, calm, tranquil. These emotions ran through Ophellia's mind as she let the days events be carried away on the night breeze.

Voices suddenly could be heard from below. As she looked down, she noticed Auron and Braska talking in the garden area two floors down. She would not have noticed them, but the two seemed to be in the middle of a quarrel.

"Where did he say he was from?" Auron asked in disbelief.

"Zanarkand. They are holding him in the prison. I plan on going to see him, aren't you curious?" Braska tried to peak the uptight man's interest.

His companion scoffed, "Listen to yourself, Braska! That's impossible. Zanarkand is just a pile of rubble. He's obviously some delusional drunk!" Auron could not see why Braska was so interested. "Don't tell me you believe these rumors!"

"We'll see." he laughed as they proceeded to the prison.

"Zanarkand?" the eavesdropper whispered to herself. She had heard the story of its destruction many times. Clearly the man had to be a drunkard. However, Lord Braska's interest in the man only exacerbated her own. This was certainly interesting! Sitting around and looking pretty was such a bore, she couldn't pass the opportunity of a little excitement. She wanted to see this man for herself. Now if she could only figure out a way to do it without Auron and Braska figuring out she had been listening in on their conversation.


Knowing the city far better than either Braska and Auron having never been outside it, Ophellia arrived at the prison mere minutes after deciding to go. At the entrance, her nerves almost failed her; what exactly was she doing this for? Nervously, she peaked around the corners only to find a few guards. "Relax," she told herself, "You can do this, you've been here plenty of times with father..."

Silently, she strode into the foyer, "Ahem..." She brought attention to herself.

"M'lady, you should not be here." Said one of the guards. The High Priest's daughter was allowed wherever she wanted in the city, but the hour was late and the guard could sense this was not of any true importance.

"I have come to see the prisoner from Zanarkand." She stated firmly.

The guard looked slightly annoyed; he couldn't refuse her entrance, but it was really none of her business. "Very well." He grumbled and lead Ophellia inside.

She followed the guard down a long brick hallway illuminated only by the torch the guard had taken from the entrance.

They arrived at a cell set far back in the building. The weak light of the torch bounced across the crude metalwork bars that ran from the ceiling to the floor, barely penetrating the cell itself. Squinting, Ophellia gazed inside.

A rugged-looking man sat towards the back of the musty cell. His head was bowed forward and he sat in a slumped position. Perhaps he was just a drunk afterall. As he did not respond to the light of the guard's torch, she wondered if he was asleep.

"What're you looking at?" He finally said, making her jump back from the bars.

"Watch your mouth, scum!" Shouted the guard. "She is the daughter of the High Priest!"

"I don't care who she is," the man retorted sourly, "It's got nothin' to do with me! Unless you're here to let me out?!" The unknown man suddenly lunged at the cell bars.

"Get back!" The guard had enough and jabbed him with the end of his bayonet.
Ophellia was startled by the sudden outburst. "I will not stand for such violence in my presence!" She admonished the guard.

"I'm sorry m'lady, I was only trying to-"

"I'm well aware that there are cell bars between us." Ophellia calmed herself back to a rational level. "You said your from Zanarkand?" She turned to the man in the cell.

"So what if I am?" He rubbed his shoulder where the guard had struck him. "You gonna tell me I'm crazy too?"

"Well, no, not even an ill person would declare such things. I was just here to see if the rumors were true..."

"Listen lady, I'm not some kinda freak to stare at!" He became insulted.

"N-no, I didn't mean to-" before she could finish, she heard Auron and Braska approaching the prison. "Oh no!" She searched for an exit, but there was no other way.

"What are you doing here?" Braska asked, catching sight of Ophellia.

"N-nothing! I just heard about..." Noticing Auron standing behind, she couldn't help but look at the ground.

"This is no place for a girl of your status!" Auron growled. Truthfully, he was just as shocked to find her here. He had hoped to leave the city without seeing her as the warrior had rejected the proposal in spite of her father; he didn't mean to be rude to a girl he barely knew.

"I-I'm sorry..." Ophellia was sure that Auron disliked her now, even despite what Braska had told her earlier. By the tone of the warrior's voice, he seemed to not want her around at all. "I should be getting back." She quickly scurried down the pitch-black halls without another word.

"Well that was odd..." Braska pondered.

"I-I only meant that it is too dangerous for a girl like her to be around prison full of criminals." Auron said apologetically, although Ophellia had already left.

"Hmmm perhaps this will be your last chance to apologize, Auron." Said Braska looking at his glum friend.

"No, it's better this way." He sighed.

"What the hell is goin' on? Everyone shoves they're way in here to see me, and now you're all throwin' a soap opera!" The man in the cell was baffled and quite frankly getting rather annoyed.

"Ah, yes, well I have actually come here with a proposition for you..." Braska drew closer to the cell.


Ophellia closed the door to her room quietly as she managed to make it back before anyone else noticed. The past few hours had certainly been full of surprises; she was about to be engaged but then wasn't, and now she suddenly cared what the very man who had rejected her thought! Her face was still flushed with embarrassment as she collapsed onto her bed, wishing she could just forget the whole thing. Exhaustion eventually overtook her befuddled mind as she drifted off to sleep, all thoughts of the strange prisoner long forgotten.


"Ophellia, are you awake?" She heard her father's voice from the other side of the door.

"Y-yes!" She hadn't realized she had fallen asleep. Sunlight flooded the floor from underneath the tall curtains drawn over the large glass window behind it.

"You missed the departure this morning; Braska has left for his pilgrimage." The High Priest gave her the news as he entered the room.

"Really? I did not know it would be so soon..." Ophellia felt bad about missing her only chance to say farewell.

"He took that idiot Auron and a drunkard claiming he from Zanarkand as his guardians. Can you believe it? I doubt that rag-tag group will make it past Macalania before turning back." He said bitterly.

"Father!" Ophellia was surprised by her father's cruel words.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way... hopefully Braska knows what he's doing.."
The High Priest's daughter didn't say anything further. Instead, she stalked out of the room leaving her father to watch, perplexed.

Ophellia couldn't believe that Braska would leave so early! He'd been planning on this journey for quite some time now, but she always had assumed it would be later in the year and not so early in the morning! She would miss his kind words and stories of his adventures and family back home. Braska was a common visitor to Beville's temple, so much so, he felt like extended family to the young girl. His presence would be sorely missed. His taking of Auron as a guardian wasn't a total shock; it was common knowledge the two were good acquaintances.

Slowing her pace, Ophellia came to a new realization. With Auron gone as well, and the few events that had happened, her world had gone back to it's normal, boring place. She would now wait for a new husband, and be nothing more than an object to anyone, a status. All she wanted to do now was cry, she felt very alone.

Wandering into the temple, Ophellia began to wonder why Braska decided to become a summoner. She knew it was partly because his wife had been killed by Sin. When she had first met Braska, many years ago now, he was still in mourning and had even brought his infant daughter to the city. Perhaps the summoner's quest was also to give his daughter a peaceful world to live in. But there are many other summoners who take on this position; he could easily let someone else do it instead of leaving his little girl all alone!

Then there was also the fact of who Braska had decided to take as guardians. Auron, she understood. But what about the other companion? The man who said he was from Zanarkand, a Zanarkand that doesn't exist anymore. On this matter, she was just as baffled as her father.

Suddenly, a thought sparked in her mind. Couldn't she do this instead of Braska?! After all, perhaps she was more suited to the task. Of course it was very dangerous, but here she was, the daughter of the High Priest who everyone looked at as more of a possession of the temple than an actual person. While she waited around for her father to find her another suitor, she could be out making so much more of a difference! Braska deserved to be with his daughter; she couldn't imagine her own life without her father and wondered how the little girl would fare without either of her parents. The thought was almost debilitating with sadness as it brought back the memories of when she had lost her own mother during an epidemic. She had to pause in her thoughts to push back the tears that threatened to take over.

On the other hand, Ophellia herself, had no one who would wait for her, or miss her, aside from her own father, when she was gone. And still, her father had been so distant since she'd entered her teenage years and now she knew why. Ophellia felt herself solidifying her resolve.

"That's it!" she exclaimed aloud. If she could be a summoner, her life would have more meaning, and she wouldn't have to worry about marriage. With a renewed energy she hadn't felt in ages, Ophellia bunched up her skirts and rushed for the Head Summoner's chambers.


"I beg your pardon?" The summoner priest, who was in charge of training summoners, was stunned by Ophellia's request.

"I want to become a summoner!" She declared again.

"You don't have the proper training, even if you are the High Priest's daughter." The old man chuckled, thinking this was some momentary fancy of the girl's.

"But I'm already a skilled healer! I really want this! Let me go to to the cloister of trials!" She begged again.

The old man looked the flustered girl in the eyes sternly, "Have you asked your father's permission?"

Ophellia was losing her calm, "I do not need his permission!"

At that very moment, none other than the High Priest entered the room. "Tell me my ears deceive me!" He looked at his daughter, hoping this was all a cruel joke, but when she stared at him with a defiance he had rarely seen from her, he knew it was not. "I will not allow this!" Her father ordered.

"But father!" she pleaded, "I believe I have greater things to do than sit here for the rest of my life! I want to do this..." Ophellia was ready to fight for her decision, determination shown in her eyes.

The priest watched the girl as her father looked away. "M'lord, I have an idea." He walked over and whispered quietly into the High Priest's ear. "Perhaps, if we let her into the trials, and she goes on this pilgrimage, she will come back. She will see the world is not all it is she makes it to be, and come back into your arms, begging for safety."

"Hmmm..." The High Priest glanced at his still-fuming daughter. "Maybe you're right... But I still feel uneasy. This is the first time she has ever asked for something so ridiculous..."

"Father, please..." Ophellia had never been denied by her father before, and when she looks at him that way, he couldn't say no.

"M'lord, it could just be a temporary act of defiance, it is common in girls her age," the old man whispered knowingly, having raised several of his own.

"A-alright. But you must pass the trials first." Hope hung in his voice, perhaps she would fail the trials, or even obtaining an aeon. There was no way he could believe in her success. "You are certain you know what you are doing? You could get hurt and I can't afford to lose you."

"You won't miss me..." Ophellia muttered as she stormed out to go prepare for the trials.


"I never had any need for this rod until now... No one ever comes to me with an injury. Maybe this is a bad idea..." Doubt crept into her mind slowly as she looked down at the metal rod in her hands as she faced the opening to the trials. "This was mother's rod... I hope I've inherited her abilities..." The door opened as she hesitated before it. "Mother, I need you more than ever..." She tightened her grip on the staff and entered the chamber.
At first all was lost to darkness as Ophellia took her first steps. She had never imagined being here, in this holy place, let alone attempting to become a summoner herself.

An eerie feeling washed over her, as the realization that she was completely alone sunk in. The summoner trials were designed to be faced by a summoner and her guardians. As this had all been very sudden and poorly thought out, she had yet to obtain any. She would have to solve the mysteries of the maze and obtain the aeon by herself. What would it look like? A monster? The would-be summoner shivered at a passing thought of a beast with sharp claws and rows of pointed teeth.

Trembling, she watched the path below her feet as it glowed with numerous glyphs. Stepping onto a platform at the end of the corridor, she wondered what would happen next. With a shudder, the platform suddenly took off down the path. Ophellia shut her eyes and clutched tightly to her mother's rod as she was whisked off further into the trial.

Only when the platform had come to a complete stop, did the girl open her eyes once more. Before her lay a vast labyrinth of powered walkways and mystic seals housed in a mechanical framework. Taking a deep breath she walked to a pillar where a glowing sphere rested. Knowing a little bit of how the puzzle in this temple worked, Ophellia gently picked up the orb and began to search for where she could use it.
Hours passed as the girl worked through the puzzle alone, carrying spheres back and forth, up and down, unlocking the paths that would lead her to her goal. She felt sure the whole day had passed by as she opened the path to the platform that would lead to the final challenge.

Mentally exhausted and with aching feet, Ophellia shakely stepped off the platform and onto the steps leading up to the Chamber of the Fayth. It was the Fayth who granted summoners the power of the aeon; the fearsome creature obtained during all pilgrimages. All she had to do was pray enough and for the right things. As she climbed the last few stairs, Ophellia wondered what she should pray for. Did it only take praying to defeat Sin? No, now was not the time to question or doubt anything! She decided to pray that she could defeat Sin so her life would have more meaning, and so Braska could live peacefully with his daughter, Yuna.

"Here goes nothing..." She watched the elaborate door in front of her open. A musty draft of air blew out of the darkened room before she entered. Everything seemed much quieter than before. Looking around, she noticed the glowing statue of the fayth on the floor beneath her. It was a comforting sight. Oddly enough, she did not feel so alone anymore. There was almost a sense of life coming from the statue. The pale-skinned girl kneeled over the statue and bowed her head. She outstretched her arms and then folded them the way citizens across Spira pray to Yevon.

"Please, hear what I have to say... Please give me to power to defeat Sin! Show me the way!" Time passed and once again Ophellia felt alone with her thoughts as she began to doubt the fayth would hear her. Tears began to stream down her face, she was tired and hungry, but most of all, alone. She began to feel that she wasn't good for anything at all, except whatever her father wishes. "Oh, please, just let me die here, I do not want to go back..." She sniffled, not noticing the phantom of a young boy before her.

"Are you fighting Sin to only die, or to sacrifice yourself for the people who long for the calm?" He asked.

Ophellia gazed up in amazement, and slightly terrified. "Y-you're...!" Words would not come to her.

"I heard your prayers, but I can also see the loneliness in your heart. Is this just an excuse for you to run away?" The boy sounded calm, but Ophellia couldn't help but see he was right.

"I want to make use of myself... I really want to save the people of Spira! My life means nothing as it currently is! Please, if you can guide me, I promise I will defeat Sin!" She felt as if her heart would burst, she yearned for this like her life depended on it.

The fayth gazed at her silently before speaking again "I can see you are determined, as long as you keep to the path you have chosen, I will stay by your side..." He sounded uncertain, but never the less, his spirit merged with Ophellia's unsuspecting body. They power swarmed over her soul so quickly, that she nearly collapsed. Everything was all too real now; she almost regretted it as she realized she would have to face the outcome of her choice. She would not go back on her promise. Her fate was sealed.


So, did you enjoy it? Please leave feedback, reviews are much appreciated. Even if it is not up to par, I won't bite! Thanks! :)