Disclaimer: Don't own FFX

All right this will be my last chapter!

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For the Year!

But it is nearing the end! Also, quite a few lines came directly from the game. I did that on purpose because of how important they are to the story. Wasn't sure where Isaaru is from, but I think it's Bevelle. Also skipping Spectral Keeper. Too annoying to write about it, and with 3 parties, I can argue that Yunalesca skipped it.

They descended down the hill before finally stopping at a clearing. Auron told them that access to the final place had to be done at night. The Cloister of Trials opened only at night when the fiends were at their strongest. This was to weed out any weak summoners who managed to make it to Zanarkand. They all decided to take this time to rest up, eat, and share stories. Max opened his arm computer in hopes of connecting with his main drive since they were near Zanarkand now but had no luck. This seemed to only prove that their Zanarkand was indeed, only a dream. Soon, night descended upon them. Everyone grabbed their weapons, looking at each other. They nodded and all left together, to make their final trip.

"Hey, Wakka! I've been meaning to ask, but how is it your weapon, a blitzball, hasn't worn out or just dead?" asked Max.

Wakka laughed at this, "You think this is just a regular blitzball? Na, man. This one has been specially crafted that can take some of my power and harden it while keeping its elasticity. If I used a regular one, I'd be going through like 5 balls a week."

As they walked down the road to Zanarkand, they noticed a river of pyreflies floating above their heads. Wakka commented on how it seemed to be like the Farplane. It was surprising to hear Auron actually reply, telling them that it was close enough. Not willing to explain why they continued on until the finally reached a dome building.

"Isn't this-?" said Max.

"Blitzball dome!?" shouted Tidus. Their final destination was where it all began. Talk about irony. Max tried to access his main database one last time, knowing that he was within range now. However, no luck came out of it. Either it was damaged or non-existent, and the latter seemed to be more likely.

Then, a gatekeeper in a priest's outfit walked out to greet them, "Journeyers of the long road, name yourselves."
Yuna introduced herself first, "I am the summoner Yuna. I have come from the island of Besaid." she gave a Yevon prayer gesture as a show of respect.

Isaaru went next, "I am summoner Isaaru. I have come from the land of Bevelle."

Donna scoffed, "Summoner Donna. I'm from the island of Kilika`
The gatekeeper looked at the eyes of each summoner, reading their expression. He nodded in acceptance and told them that Lady Yunalesca would welcome each of them. However, what she would do with three parties, would be completely up to her. As they walked in, the gatekeeper dispersed into pyreflies, showing them all that he was also an unsent, which scared them.

While inside the dome, Tidus and Max recognized the dome. It was definitely the same one as back home. Tidus and Max were tempted to go search for signs of something that might prove they weren't dreams. However, both decided it was better to not go looking for these clues. It might just push them further into depression. Suddenly, the pyreflies coalesced, and an image of two women wearing Crusader uniforms walked past them. Rikku and Pacce crouched down in fear, while others were confused but prepared for a fight.

"If it might benefit the future of Spira," proclaimed one of the woman to the other, "I will gladly give my life. It is the highest honor for which a guardian might ask. Use my life, Lady Yocun, and rid Spira of Sin."

The other woman nodded, and they suddenly disappeared.

"What…what was that?" asked Rikku, slightly freaking out.
"Our predecessors," replied Auron.
Lulu contemplated on this answer, "She said 'Lady Yocun,' didn't she? Wait! She guarded High Summoner Yocun?"
"This dome is filled with pyreflies," explained Auron, "It's like one gigantic sphere. People's thoughts remain here. Forever."

They walked down the path again, fighting, even more, fiends and even unsent. Luckily, a cast of healing magic killed the undead fiends. However, they were almost overwhelmed when a bunch of them and machina droids came attacking. Thankfully, Auron decided to use his Overdrive Tornado. Channeling his energy, gusts of winds gathered around him. With two spins and a fierce swing, a tornado gathered up right at the cluster of enemies, sending them flying in the tornado. Grabbing his jug, he took a sip before chucking the whole jug into the tornado, which spontaneously caught on fire. It instantly wiped out the enemy. Soon, another image came upon them.

It was a young boy with blue hair. The semblance to Seymour was very uncanny, making them believe they were seeing a fragment of Seymour's past.
"No! Mother, no!" cried out Seymour, "I don't want you to become a fayth!"
"There is no other way," said the mother, "Use me and defeat Sin. Only then will the people accept you."
Seymour replied back while crying, "I don't care about them! I need you, Mother! No one else!"
The mother looked away with guilt before answering back, "I don't…have much time left."

"Hey, wasn't that…?" said Wakka, startled at this sight.
"Seymour?" added Rikku

"Guess that explains why he went crazy," said Paine.

"They all talk about sacrifice to be a fayth," commented Pacce. Everyone's face was in shock and surprise. They were so focused that the fact Seymour had been here before that they forgot about the subject Seymour and his mother had been focused on. They other memory also had a similar conversation.

"Auron?" asked Tidus. Auron merely looked away before saying it wasn't time yet.
As they continued forward, they stumbled upon a memory that seemed to be the most recent one.
They saw Jecht, Braska, and a much younger looking Auron.

"Hey, Braska," said Jecht with concern, "You don't have to do this."

'"Thank you for your concern," replied Braska, waving it off with grace.

"Fine," said Jecht as he folded his arms across his chest, "I said my piece."

"Well, I haven't!" exclaimed Auron, "Lord Braska, let us go back! I don't want to see you…die!"

"You knew this was to happen, my friend," lectured Braska. "Yes, but I…I cannot accept it." shouted Auron in reply. Braska chuckled at this while shaking his head, "Auron, I am honored that you care for me so. But I have come to kill grief itself. I will defeat Sin, and lift the veil of sorrow covering Spira. Please understand, Auron."

"Even the legendary guardian had doubts, eh?" said Dona. She was frightened that she took it too far, but her pride demanded that she snark on Auron a bit.

Paine gave Dona a death glare, but Auron just remained silent and moved on. Soon, they had finally reached the entrance to the Cloister of Trials. As they were debating on who would go first, the gatekeeper appeared again and told them to all just go together, for Lady Yunalesca has decided to allow it. After arguing endlessly about what to do, they finally solved the puzzle. A platform came up that would lead the summoner the Chamber of Fayth.

At this point, Max and Tidus were arguing with Wakka and Lulu that they shouldn't allow the summoners down, not without exploiting every clue that this city had to offer. However, in the end, Auron told them strongly to let them go down. After all, just obtaining the final summoning wouldn't kill the summoner. It was only when it was used against Sin that it killed them. It didn't make them feel better, but Max and Tidus reluctantly let it go. As Yuna, Isaaru, and Dona took the platform down, Max was trying to find any source of connection to a Zanarkand database, with Tidus also looking for a port for him to plug in. Somewhere, there had to be something that gave them a clue. However, they didn't get the chance as the trio of summoners were suddenly back.

"Sir Auron!" yelled Yuna, "Everyone!"

"Come down here now!" shouted Isaaru.

"You must see what has happened!" yelled Dona.

All three of them were looking shaken at what they had just seen. Quickly leading the charge, Tidus went down with them. Since they had so many, they had to make two trips.

They arrived to see a statue into the floor. However, compared to the usual glow, this one was dim. Also, a black corruption seemed to spread over its glow.
"This isn't a fayth. It's just an empty statue," explained Yuna.

"But how did the previous summoners get the final summoning, then?" asked Isaaru.

"You! Auron! Explain to us!" demanded Dona, forgetting about formalities.

The gatekeeper suddenly appeared from a hidden door in the wall, surprising them all. "That statue lost its power as a fayth long ago," he explained, "It is Lord Zaon, the first fayth of the Final Summoning. What you see before you is all that remains of him. Lord Zaon is…his soul is gone."

"That's impossible!" said Maroda.

"How did others get it then?" asked Barthello.

"Does that mean big brother doesn't need to be sacrificed?" asked Pacce.
"But fear not," said the gatekeeper, ignoring Pacce's last question, "Lady Yunalesca will show you the path. The Final Aeon will be yours. The summoner and the Final Aeon will join powers. Go to her now. Inside, the lady awaits." The gatekeeper vanished, and the hidden door remained opened for them.

Before anyone could react, Tidus quickly whirled to Auron, asking him if he knew this already. Auron said yes, making Rikku and Paine question why he didn't just tell them in the first place. Auron replied with another question, asking if it would have even stopped them. The summoners looked at each other and agreed, even this news wouldn't have stopped them.
"Yuna," said Kimahri.
"I'm not going back," replied Yuna.
Kimahri merely stepped in front of Yuna, "Kimahri knows. Kimahri go first. Yuna is safe. Kimahri protect."

They quickly entered through the door to see a grand hall. Then, they could hear footsteps coming in

"Someone's coming!" warned Paine, her sword out.

Soon, a lady with extremely provocative clothing stepped out. Most of the males whose age was above 12 and below 30 whose race was human all blushed at this sight. Tidus quickly shifted his view to Yuna, who pouted a bit that Tidus had clearly been ogling someone. Rikku was slamming her fists playfully onto Max's shoulder, telling him that he was being unfaithful. Dona wasn't holding back and was clearly punishing Barthello for being such an unfaithful guardian. Pacce, who hadn't hit puberty yet, was asking why the lady was barely wearing any clothing. He received no answer as Maroda and Isaaru were too busy ogling the lady that came in. Isaaru quickly snapped out of it first and pinched Maroda back to reality. "Lady Yunalesca," said Yuna as she bowed to her in respect. The rest of the summoners and guardians followed the suit, except for Max and Tidus. They observed their surroundings. They had been told Yunalesca was native from Zanarkand, but both of them couldn't recall anyone with that name in their own Zanarkand. "Welcome to Zanarkand," she announced with a voice that could seduce many, "I congratulate you all, summoners. You have completed your pilgrimage. I will now bestow one of you with that which you seek. I will, of course, reward the other two with the Final Summoning at a later time when it is needed. The Final Summoning…will be yours. Now, each one of you must choose." Everyone except Auron was confused at what she meant at that last part. Didn't she just say she would provide it? Pacce, however, was the one who caught it first.

"Does that mean my brother or any summoner has to choose one of us to become the fayth?" asked Pacce.

Yunalesca chuckled at the kid, "The little one is correct. You must choose the one whom I will change…to become the fayth of the Final Summoning."

Everyone gasped at this revelation. Not only did they sacrifice a summoner, but they also had to sacrifice a guardian as well?
"There must be a bond," explained Yunalesca, "between chosen and summoner, for that is what the Final Summoning embodies: the bond between husband and wife, mother and child, or between friends. If that bond is strong enough, its light will conquer Sin. A thousand years ago, I chose my husband Zaon as my fayth. Our bond was true, and I obtained the Final Aeon."

She looked around at everyone, whose face were still in shock. "There is nothing to fear. You will soon be freed of worry and pain. For once you call forth the Final Aeon, your life will end. Death is the ultimate and final liberation. Your father, Braska, chose this path." She walked back into the door that lead to her room, where she would convert someone into the Final Aeon.

"That wasn't uplifting," commented Max.

"No kidding," replied Tidus, "Liberation by death? That's bull."

Suddenly, the pyreflies coalesced one more time, showing Jecht, Auron, and Braska in the exact room, making their decision.

"It is not too late!" exclaimed Auron, "Let us turn back!"

"Uncle?" asked Paine in shock. She would have never guessed that Auron would be so willing to throw the teachings away when he was young.
"If I turn back, who will defeat Sin?" replied Braska, "Would you have some other summoner and his guardians go through this?"

Isaaru nodded in agreement. He wouldn't want any summoner to go through this choice if he could prevent it.

"But…my lord, there must be another way!" shouted Auron in desperation.

"This is the only way we got now!" replied Jecht. He folded his arms before making his decision. "Fine. Make me the fayth. I' been doing some thinking. My dream is back in the other Zanarkand. I wanted to make that runt into a star blitz player. Show him the view from the top, you know. But now I know there's no way home for me. I'm never gonna see him again. My dream's never gonna come true. So make me the fayth. I'll fight Sin with you, Braska. Then maybe my life will have meaning, you know."

"Dad...," said Tidus quietly, his hands gripping tightly. He knew that this had to be related to how Jecht became Sin. He was also mad but proud that his father actually cared about him.

"Don't do this, Jecht! If you live…there may be another way! We'll think of something, I know!" shouted Auron, clenching his fist.

"Looks like Tidus takes on a little more on Auron than he knows," said Max. "Both have the same view,"

"Believe me, I thought this through," explained Jecht, "Besides… I ain't gettin' any younger, so I might as well make myself useful."
Braska thanked Jecht for his sacrifice, and both of them turned to enter the room to follow Yunalesca.
"Lord Braska! Jecht!" shouted Auron.
"What do you want now?" groaned Jecht in annoyance.
"Sin always comes back," Auron said dreadfully, " It comes back after the Calm every time! The cycle will continue and your deaths will mean nothing!"
"But there's always a chance it won't come back this time. It's worth trying," answered Braska

"Father..." cried out Yuna. She understood his father's choice and was willing to do the same at the cost of her life. If it meant ending all suffering for Spira, she would give up her life for it.

"I understand what you're saying, Auron. I'll find a way to break the cycle," said Jecht."Trust me, I'll think of something." He laughed out loudly at this.

Braska and Jecht left to complete the ritual. Auron fell down onto his knees in despair as he watched them go.

Auron stood behind the memory of himself. Suddenly, he snarled, and wildly tried to chop off his past self's head. This was the only time he actually lost control of his emotions as he frantically tried to dispel the dark memories away. Soon, it finally faded away. Auron looked down in shame.

"And the cycle went on," he said quietly.

"We'll break it!" announced Tidus.
"But how? What, you got a plan now?" Wakka asked sarcastically.
"If one of us has to become a fayth…," said Lulu as she walked up, "I volunteer."
"Me too, Yuna!" said Wakka.

"Hmph. It'll obviously be me and Barthello, right," said Dona. However, everyone could see that this was just her putting up a brave face. Barthello, though, was in complete agreement with her. He would do anything for her, even if it meant giving up his life.

"No," said Isaaru, "It is easy to see that you and Barthello love each other Dona. You must live. The same applies to you, Yuna. I know that you have developed intense feelings for Tidus just by observing."

He looked at Maroda, who nodded in reply. Before Pacce could say anything, Maroda gave a quick chop to his neck, making him fall unconscious.

"I should be the one to do it with Maroda. Both of us have nothing to go back to anymore. My only request is that Pacce is taken care of when we are gone. Can you do that for me, Lady Yuna and Lady Dona?" "That still won't change anything, you know? " shouted Tidus, "You'd bring the Calm, and then what? That won't break the cycle!" "Listen…," said Wakka uneasily, "You wanna defeat Sin and keep Yuna and everybody alive… You don't want Sin to come back, ya? That is just not gonna happen, brudda, you know?" "If you want everything, you'll end up with nothing," advised Lulu. "But I want everything!" shouted Tidus angrily. "Now you're being childish!" scolded Wakka.

"Better than being an adult in this world," shouted Max angrily, "They just throw away a summoner so they can do whatever they want! There's no way I can accept the fact that someone has to be sacrificed for a short-term happiness!"

Tidus nodded in reply before answering Wakka, "You're right, I might not even have a chance. But no way am I gonna just stand here and let Yuna go. And what Auron said about there being a way… I think it's true."
"You'll think of something?" asked Rikku.

"What could you even think of?" asked Paine.
"I'll go ask Yunalesca. She's got to know something," said Tidus.
"You really think she'll help you?" asked Rikku.

"She better be willing," growled Max. Kimahri nodded as he also growled.
"I don't know, but I have to try," said Tidus, "This is my story. It'll go the way I want it…or it'll end here! But, I'm not making this my chapter! I'm going on, and I'm making it that way!"

"Hmph," said Max, "I'm with you on this one Tidus. We'll make sure this continues on! We'll end her chapter before ours comes even close."
Max and Tidus nodded to each other as they walked forward towards the door. They told everyone to just stay still. If they didn't come back, then it would probably mean that they were dead. However, this would still allow them to summon the Final Aeon. As they took a step forward, Yuna came rushing in.

"Wait," she said. She looked down at her feet for a bit before raising her face, looking at Tidus intently, "You say it's your story, but it's my story, too, you know? It would be so easy…to let my fate just carry me away…following this same path my whole life through. But I know…I can't. What I do, I do…with no regrets."

They all agreed at this. Gently waking Pacce up, they walked through the door. Pacce was angry at Maroda for hitting him and wouldn't accept an apology until he got his favorite candy. Maroda caved in and brought it out, letting him eat it happily They were soon at a large platform that seemed to be floating in space.

"You know, you're a lot like your dad than you think, Tidus," whispered Max. "You both have the same mindset, but it's also been tempered by Auron and of course, ME!"

Tidus slapped him on the head for that comment.

Yunalesca stepped out from the shadows and walked towards them.

"Have you chosen which summoner will go first? Has the summoner chosen the one to become your fayth? Who will it be?" asked Yunalesca.
"Might I ask something first?" questioned Yuna.

Yunalesca slowly nodded in reply. "Will Sin come back even should I use the Final Summoning to defeat it?"

"Sin is eternal. Every aeon that defeats it becomes Sin in its place… And thus is Sin reborn," said Yunalesca, not even worried about the cycle.
"So that's why Jecht became Sin," said Tidus. Max and Rikku, who were the closest to him, heard and nodded.
"Sin is an inevitable part of Spira's destiny. It is neverending," continued Yunalesca.
"Neverending?" gasped out Wakka, "But…but…if we atone for our crimes, Sin will stop coming back, ya? Someday, it'll be gone, ya?"

In his mind, he was suddenly vividly reminded of when Max asked that question.

"Will humanity ever attain such purity?" answered Yunalesca with another question.

"This…this cannot be!" shouted Lulu in desperation, "The teachings state that we can exorcise Sin with complete atonement! It's been our only hope all these years!"

"You can't mean to tell us that this was a complete lie!" shouted Maroda.
"Hope is…comforting. It allows us to accept fate, however tragic it might be," replied Yunalesca without a care.
"No!" shouted Tidus as he took a few steps forward, with Max right behind him.

Suddenly, the pyreflies gathered once more, showing another memory. The young image of Auron appeared once more, brandishing his against an image of Yunalesca.

"No!" shouted Auron, "Where is the sense in all this? Braska believed in Yevon's teachings and died for them! Jecht believed in Braska and gave his life for him!"
"They chose to die…because they had hope," said Yunalesca whimsically.

Auron cried inf fury as he jumped into the air, fully intending to slice Yunalesca in half. However, with a flick of her hand, she easily deflected the sword before slamming his stomach with a magical attack. He was sent flying across the room, skidding on the floor before crumpling. His blade flew out of his hand and landed next to him.

However, before the image faded away, Paine and a few others saw that her uncle took serious if not life-threatening damage from that. But how did he live through it, with nobody to help him? She looked at Auron, who showed no sign of relenting.

"Yevon's teachings and the Final Summoning give the people of Spira hope. Without hope, they would drown in their sorrow," explained Yunalesca patiently, as if to a child, "Now, choose. Who will be your fayth? Who will be the one to renew Spira's hope?"

All three summoners looked at each other before all coming with an agreement. It didn't take long to make their decision. "No one," announced Yuna, "I would have gladly died. So would have Lady Dona and Sir Isaaru. I live for the people of Spira and would have gladly died for them. But no more! The Final Summoning…is a false tradition that should be thrown away." Yunalesca shook her head, trying to convince the others that they were wrong, "No. It is our only hope. Your father sacrificed himself to give that hope to the people. So they would forget sorrow." "Wrong," yelled Yuna, "My father… My father wanted…to make Spira's sorrow go away. Not just cover it up with lies!"

"I looked up to High summoner Braska," said Isaaru, "And I know he believed that he might someday defeat Sin forever! Not just continue the cycle!"
"Sorrow cannot be abolished. It is meaningless to try," replied Yunalesca.
Yuna shook her head, "My father… I loved him. So I… I will live with my sorrow." Her voice started to get stronger as she continued, "I will live my own life! I will defeat sorrow, in his place. I will stand my ground and be strong. I don't know when it will be but someday, I will conquer it. And I will do it without…false hope."

Dona nodded before stepping up, "False hope is the same as no hope. I refuse to believe that there is no hope! I will find a way!" she laughed loudly.
"Poor creatures," said Yunalesca sadly, "You would throw away hope. Well… I will free you before you can drown in your sorrow. It is better for you to die in hope than to live in despair. Let me be your liberator."

Suddenly, her whole body looked like it was brimming with power. It was easy to see how Auron, the legendary guardian, lost against her so easily. The fact that she had decided to kill them all made them gasp. She had slightly transformed. Her hair now pointed all over the place, while something mysterious seemed to be supporting her back.

Auron stepped up in front of all of them, "Now! This is it! Now is the time to choose!" he shouted with hand gesturing with passion, "Die and be free of pain or live and fight your sorrow! Now is the time to shape your stories! Your fate is in your hands!"

"Never thought you'd be one for speeches, uncle. But I'm in!" said Paine as she drew out her blade. "Yuna needs Kimahri. Kimahri protect Yuna," proclaimed Kimahri as he took out his halberd and expanded it. "I can't believe we're gonna fight Lady Yunalesca! Gimme a break!" said Wakka. He found out that this group for some reason always seem to have reasons to break down walls of Yevon. "You can always run," suggested Lulu. "Hah!" Wakka laughed out loud as he got out his ball. He had long accepted the fact that this group was never normal, "I'd never forgive myself–no way! Not if I ran away now. Even in death, ya!" "My thoughts exactly," smirked Lulu.

"Pacce! Go hide, just in case," said Isaaru.

"No! I'm fighting, too this time. I don't want to run away now. Where would I even run to if you all died? Better to stick together than be alone!" replied Pacce as he grabbed a dagger out.

"He's right, you know," said Maroda as he prepared his dirk in his hand, "Where would he go if we died. Family sticks together."

"Hmph. You may have power, but you won't beat us! Isn't that right, Barthello?" said Dona.

"I will protect Dona with all my power!" shouted Barthello, pounding his gauntlets together, "Nothing will stop me from making me protect her!"

"Could've been more forward about this Auron! But who cares! We're in this together. No way I'm letting an old hag who claims to also be from Zanarkand kill me!" said Max as he pulled out his guns. Yunalesca raised an eyebrow at this put the thought away. She was more interested in the fact that there was someone using machina in a summoner's group when Yevon had been very strict about it.

"I'm fighting too!," said Rikku as she drew out her dual daggers, "I won't let all the work my people did be in vain!"
"Yuna!" shouted Tidus as he drew out his weapon, "This is our story! Now let's see this thing through together."

"Roger!" said Yuna as she drew out her staff. She gave him one last kiss on the cheek before retreating to the back line.

Formation:

Vanguard/Frontline: Paine, Auron, Tidus, Kimahri, Barthello. Maroda

Midrange: Wakka, Max

Backline: Lulu, Dona, Isaaru, Yuna

Guerilla: Rikku, Pacce

"Fight for your right to live!" shouted Auron as he charged forward, everybody else following him into battle.

All right! Time to plan out how the hell I'm going to write out this battle. Also, yes I put in Auron's 4th Overdrive one chapter after another. You may complain, saying that he needed those memory spheres to unlock it. But... Cmon. He can't possibly need all that crap just to remember his old moves or make new ones. Also, I needed to get it out of the way for what I have planned. Trust me, its gonna be good.

Also, vote for which story I should expand on my profile! Jaune of Fake or Jaune of Dragon.