Author's Note: I do not own any of the Final Fantasy X characters or ideas. They all belong to Squaresoft. Some of the dialogue in this is quoted from the game.

This is just my interpretation of what happened in Auron's past. The rating is for language and gore/violence. I realize that Braska, Auron, and Jecht probably didn't fight Sin in Zanarkand, but placing the fight anywhere else would give Auron time to cool down before fighting Yunalesca and I didn't want that to happen. Other than that I am going to try to stay true to the game, so please tell me if I stray. This is my first fanfiction so please be gentle. I am also posting this as I write it so it will be a rough draft. Constructive criticism is welcome. I hope you enjoy it and please review.

Everliving

As the last leaf lifeless spirals solemn down,

just above, a herald robed in white.

Crystalline, concentric, thousands follow,

myriad in blankets, drifts and wind and wind...

Foreverafter, everything is frozen to the core.

No joy, nor laughter stirs the blood or warms the eyes

anymore. And they say, one day the ice will melt away,

they new green will bring...

But I, I don't believe in spring.

Mercury in silver spirals, (shiver), sounding

depths of arctic distance down and wind.

Seems I've never been warm. Seems I'll never see the sun.

Just can't afford to risk, to hope...

Foreverafter, everything is frozen to the core.

No tears of laughter fire the blood or pierce the heart

anymore. And they say, one day the snow will turn to rain.

Despite all they sing, I can't,

I won't believe in spring.

I woke up this morning to the sound of singing

and bright light tearing through my shade.

Can I see again or am I walking in a dream?

Just can't afford to take the risk...

Foreverafter, I will brace myself against the cold

with icy laughter, I stir my drink, I dry my eyes,

for I'm told they will say, "Today, the ice is burned away,

the gray has turned to green."

But still, I don't believe in spring.

-Pearl Merchant (from "Everliving")

Auron held the lifeless form of Braska in his arms. Tears ran freely down his cheeks. Dignity no longer existed, not that he cared. Braska's blood covered his hands and pooled at his feet, seeping into the ground. The steady rain tried to wash it away as the thunder tried to muffle the cries of the devastated guardian.

Auron looked up as a shadow covered him.

Jecht.

Braska's final aeon hovered over him. His former friend was mutated almost beyond recognition. There was nothing human about the Jecht that loomed over him now. He had grown in size. His hands were now so large they could engulf a man in their grip. His eyes glowed a ghostly white. In fact, looking at him reminded Auron of a phantom. Some aspects of the man remained: the red bandana was still wrapped around his head and his scraggly beard was the same except that it had turned white.

Not now.

Why?

Yuna.

Jecht hesitated a moment and then turned away. Auron turned back to Braska. Tears flooded his eyes again. He blinked them back furiously. Gently lowering his friend to the ground, Auron stood and clenched his fist. "I will avenge your death, Lord Braska. Yunalesca will pay for what she has done," he vowed. Picking his sword up and resting it on his shoulder, Auron took one last look at his friend before he walked away, climbing the stairs that would lead him to his enemy.

***

"No!" Auron shouted. He was facing off Yunalesca, his sword held to the side. He stared off in the distance. The rage was overwhelming. He thought that its flames might consume him unless he took it out on someone.

"Where is the sense in all this?" Auron demanded, meeting Yunalesca's eyes. "Braska believed in Yevon's teachings and died for them." The fire was eating at his heart. He shifted the position of his sword so that he held it before him. "Jecht believed in Braska and gave his life for him!"

"They chose to die...because they had hope," Yunalesca said in that maddeningly calm voice.

Auron lost it. With a great cry he charged at her, leaping in the air to bring his sword down on her head. Before the blade touched her, Yunalesca called forth a ball of energy and struck Auron in the chest with it. The blast knocked Auron behind her where he struck the floor, left shoulder first. A few seconds after he hit his great katana stuck into the floor a foot from his right shoulder. The last thing he saw was Yunalesca staring at him with a mixture of pity and satisfaction on her pale face, then everything went black.