I don't own Auron. Believe me, you'd know if I did. *evil cackle*

Contains references to Jecht and Braska, of course, but there is no romance and definitely no yaoi involved. Just recollections of friendship.

Reflections, chapter 6

Auron: Legendary Guardian

It's been ten years…

Ten years since Lord Braska's Calm began. Ten years since I watched my companions--my friends--die that terrible, senseless death. The years of living in limbo, trying to fulfill the promises I made to Braska and Jecht.

It's been ten years since I died.

* * * *

When I first met Braska, I was a brash young man, barely out of my teens. Thanks to my skills as a swordsman, I was rising quickly within the ranks of the warrior monks. I seemed destined to remain within the temple walls, protecting those within from any harm, physical or otherwise. Being well suited for temple life, I accepted my destiny without question, even welcomed it.

Then came the proposal. My downfall.

That offer of marriage threw my rigidly disciplined world into utter chaos. To marry a high priest's daughter--most would jump at such an opportunity, and why should they not? The priests of Bevelle were well provided for; they had all the wealth and all the material comforts Yevon could possibly provide. The children of such a marriage would lack for nothing. Furthermore, the marriage would serve to strengthen the ties between the temples and those who protected them. It would be so…practical. With this "reasoning" in mind, I agreed to meet the high priest's daughter.

Liena turned out to be both beautiful and intelligent. She had a keen intellect, a quick wit, a dry yet intriguing sense of humor, and of course, a great respect for Yevon, the temples, and the work of the warrior monks. We would have made a good match. There was no particular reason not to accept the proposal.

But…I did not love her. In time, I believe I could have grown to enjoy her company, the presence of another human being to drive away the loneliness a young man often feels. But love? That was inconceivable. I simply couldn't imagine spending the rest of my life with any woman, let alone one who had been chosen for me by someone else. Thus, I made what many would call the biggest mistake of my life: I refused the proposal.

There were consequences, of course; one does not refuse the hand of the high priest's daughter without paying a penalty. I was removed from the ranks of the warrior monks, cast out of the temple--but not before my former comrades came together to exact a rather harsh punishment upon me. That punishment was severe enough that Braska, the city's strongest white mage even at that time, had to work through the next two nights to heal my wounds.

In the days following my decision, I found myself spending much of my time with Braska. The man had a true gift for healing others, both physically and emotionally, along with an endless store of patience. He kept a close eye on me for several weeks, making sure I didn't do anything else foolish or irrational--quite a task, as my sake jug and I attracted no small amount of trouble in those days. When I learned that he was to become a summoner, I offered to become his guardian, unwilling to lose the companionship . He accepted my offer, and the rest, as they say, is history.

* * * *

After the Final Summoning, after Lord Braska became High Summoner, after both of my friends died--I couldn't handle the grief. I was young, well trained as a warrior monk but inexperienced in the ways of the world. I had never lost anyone dear to me, and the pain of loss clouded my thinking and toyed with my thought processes. In this unstable state, I made an extremely poor choice: I decided to go back to Zanarkand and exact revenge on Lady Yunalesca. I truly believed that ending her existence would be enough to stop the cycle of Sin, summoners, and sacrifice. Simplistic, I know, but I couldn't see past my own pain. I didn't think; I simply acted.

I gained nothing by confronting Yunalesca. She struck me down easily, ending my pain by ending my life, and I awoke mortally wounded, barely able to get Yuna out of Bevelle before I died. Yes, I awoke as an unsent, but I also awoke with a new purpose: to watch over Lord Braska's daughter and Sir Jecht's son, as I had promised to do. I vowed to guide and protect them, to the best of my ability, until they were ready to end Spira's sorrow once and for all.

* * * *

Her eyes meet mine, and she hesitates. "Sir Auron…?"

I hold my hand up to my face, examining it closely through my good eye. A single pyrefly flutters away from my now semi-transparent body--"a memory set free," Braska would probably say. I close my eyes, but I can still hear soft gasps from Yuna's remaining guardians. I'm sure this is quite a shock for them; other than Tidus, none of them knew I was unsent.

The last High Summoner grips her staff tightly, as though the last of her resolve might vanish if she drops it. Understandable, of course. She grew up thinking of me as Sir Auron, the legendary guardian who accompanied her father on his pilgrimage. Discovering that I have been dead all along must be frightening for her. Briefly, I consider staying…but no. I have fulfilled my promises at last; the business that tied me to this world has been completed. Spira's sorrow is forever vanquished, as Braska and Jecht and I wished it could be. It is time for my story to end.

I look at her, at the friends who surround her, and say the words that will allow her to complete her last sending.

"…Don't stop."

Have you ever had Auron stuck in your head? Let me tell you, it's quite an experience. He's a fascinating character who makes for an equally fascinating, yet difficult muse. I mean, you never really know what's going on inside that head. On the plus side, I got to vicariously be Auron. ^_^

Anyway, it may be a while before I update again, since a) I'm going to write Seymour, as several reviewers have mentioned, and b) I'm starting a great big AU fic, tentatively titled "Final Fantasy X: Apocalypse." Yeah, it's very AU. How AU? Gotta read it and see. :-D

Thanks to everybody who's been reviewing--don't forget to do so on your way out. Love and hugs and chocolate chip cookies to all my awesome reviewers! (::)