Disclaimer: I love final fantasy, but I don't own it. No siree.
These are the days you often say
"There's nothing that we cannot do"
We that cannot be of stars
I'd shed blood for you…
Ash – Shining Light
Jecht wiped the sweat from his brow, grinning at Auron as he wiped his blade clean. The man stretched cat like, his muscles weary after the intense battle.
"Nothin' like a good fight to clear out the cobwebs, huh?" Jecht prodded the youth; Auron jumped in response, lost in his thoughts. The older man frowned, worried at his young comrade's state.
"Hey, it's ok. Happen Rin just got delayed that's why he wasn't waiting with news for ya at Djose. She'll be fine, Auron. Just you wait, we'll defeat Sin and go back home and have a big party!" The mans hearty laugh echoed throughout the trials, the absence of Braska notable by the silence that followed the chuckles. Auron smiled weakly at his companion, wishing that the answers to his problems were as simple as Jecht thought.
Yevon, what can I do? Braska prays to the Fayth, I have failed…
"Jecht, Auron!" The summoner's voice broke through his thoughts.
"My Lord? It is done already?" Auron asked the question hesitantly, fear in his voice.
Braska shook his head, pointing down into the antechamber that held the Fayth. "There…oh, just come and see for yourselves!"
Auron hid his smile from the two older men. So there is still time.
As they reached the bottom of the well Braska leapt from the machina, pointing at the centrepiece which dominated the small room. The strains of the Hymn, distorted almost beyond recognition, made Auron shiver as he took in the dimly lit room.
"This is not a Fayth! It's a mere statue!"
"You are correct, summoner. That statue lost its power as a Fayth long ago. It is Lord Zaon of the first summoning. But fear not, Lady Yunalesca shall show you the way!"
The group turned to see a wizened old man standing before them. An unsent judging by the pyreflies gathered around his form. Braska cleared any doubts he had about following the spectre and pursued the man as he led them from the small room into the private chambers of Lady Yunalesca.
Auron fingered the hilt of his sword uneasily, his eyes darting around the room to try and ascertain if any threats to his summoner lurked in the shadows. The nervous energy calmed when his scans were completed, yet did not dissipate fully, an ever mindful eye still trained on Braska. He smiled as Jecht looked around the place in child like wonderment, his friend and fellow Guardian still awed by Spira after months on its soils. He wandered over to the man, clasping his shoulder in camaraderie.
"Jecht, I, I thank you for the time we have spent together. I am grateful for what you have done, not only for Braska, but for me as well. You have kept us together through the tough times."
Jecht grinned at the younger man, embarrassed by the praise. "Yeah, tough times I caused!"
Auron laughed, shaking his heads at the truth of the older mans words. "Maybe so, but the journey would not have been as…interesting if you had not been with us."
Jecht's smile faded, his features taking on an air of seriousness. "I wouldn't have missed it. When I get back to my Zanarkand, my boy'll be forever buggin' me to tell him the story 'bout brave Lord Braska and the heroic Auron. For once, I don't think I'll mind. I know I can be an ass, difficult even, but I'll never forget the chances you both gave me."
"We both can be…difficult."
"Well, at least you've loosened up a bit, I bet Lesca'll thank me for that!" He punched Auron lightly in the arm, grinning.
"She probably will…" Auron replied softly, his eyes taking on a faraway look as he remembered her standing at the temple, smiling beatifically as she agreed to be his.
Why, my love? I know why I love you, but I can be so fastidious, what can you possibly see in me? You are…truly special.
A shimmering figure appeared atop the stairs, Auron tensing until he realised whom it was. He gasped, "Lady Yunalesca?"
Jecht grinned at the unsent woman's apparel, nudging Auron indiscreetly. "You think Lesca'd dress like that for you?"
Auron scowled, a blush reddening his face. Lady Yunalesca spoke softly to the assembled group.
"Welcome to Zanarkand. I congratulate you summoner; you have completed your pilgrimage. I will now bestow upon you that which you seek. The Final Aeon will be yours."
Braska bowed deeply, "Lady Yunalesca, it is an honour."
The sceptre shook her head, "No need for such formalities, Braska. You are the hope of the people as was I in years gone by. We are much the same in standing. Now choose."
Braska's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "My Lady? I do not understand…"
"You must choose the one whom I will change, the one who will be your Fayth."
Auron drew in a deep breath, panicked by Yunalesca's statement. No! This cannot be!
She continued, oblivious to the alarm she had caused. "The bond between summoner and Fayth must be true, such as the bond between husband and wife, mother and child, or between friends. One thousand years ago, I chose my husband Zaon as my Fayth. Our bond was true and I obtained the Final Aeon. Choose wisely, summoner. Come to me with your decision."
As the woman exited, Auron shook his head in disbelief. "My Lord, no! We cannot do this!"
Braska smiled sadly, "It must be done Auron. For the sake of Spira. I have come too far now."
The younger man sliced his hand through the air, venting his frustration. "It is not too late! Let us turn back!"
Braska eyed the young man sympathetically. "If I turn back, who will defeat Sin? Would you have some other summoner and his Guardians go through this?"
He hung his head, before meeting his father in laws gaze defiantly. "But…my lord, there must be another way!"
Jecht, quiet up until this point, stood before the younger man, resignation in his eyes.
"This is the only way we got now!" He turned to Braska. "Fine. Make me the Fayth."
He walked over to the stairs with his back to the others, looking up to the heavens as if seeking an answer. "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."
He clenched his fist, sorrow in his eyes. "But now I know there's no way home for me. I'm never going to see him again. My dreams never gonna come true."
Jecht turned back to face his comrades, the men he called friend. "So make me the Fayth."
Taking Braska by the shoulders, he looked into his eyes, the sincerity shining through. "I'll fight Sin with you, Braska, then maybe my life will have some meaning, you know."
Auron cried out in anguish, "Don't do this Jecht! If you live…there may be another way! We'll think of something, I know!"
Jecht grinned, his eyes belying his woe. "Believe me, I thought this through. Besides…I ain't getting' any younger, so I might as well make myself useful."
He began to climb the stairs toward his destiny when Braska interrupted hesitantly. "Jecht."
The scarred man turned back, rolling his eyes. "What! You're not gonna try and stop me, too? Braska, it's him or me, we all know that. I can't go back to my life. Auron's got a job to do, he's gotta look after little Yuna and he's got to take care of his wife. He's got his whole life in front of him Braska, I'm not gonna rob him and Lesca of their time together. They don't need to suffer like we did."
Braska understood, berating himself silently for forgetting the needs of his children. "Sorry, I mean…thank you."
Jecht turned to Auron; "Braska still has to fight Sin, Auron. Guard him well. Make sure he gets there.
Auron tried to speak, tried to argue with man as he had countless times before. Only a strangled cry surfaced from his throat, emotion swelling within his chest so he could not breathe. Unshed tears threatened to spill and he turned from the scene, unable to watch.
Jecht watched the boy and he struggled to leave him in his distress. I'm sorry Auron. It's for your own good, kid.
He addressed Braska softly. "Well, lets go."
They headed toward Yunalesca slowly, every step closer to death before a voice stopped them one last time.
"Lord Braska! Jecht!"
Jecht grinned inwardly; You just don't give up, do you? Gotta admire that! He kept his face straight, punching the air apparently in frustration.
"What do you want now?"
The terror was evident in Auron's eyes as he pleaded with his friends. He held his arms out to them, begging them to listen.
"Sin always comes back. It comes back after the Calm every time! The cycle will continue and your deaths will mean nothing!"
Braska smiled, "But there's always a chance it won't come back this time. It's worth trying."
Jecht tried to calm the distraught youth. "I understand what you're saying, Auron. I'll find a way to break the cycle."
Auron looked up, tentative hope beginning to surface. "You have a plan?"
Braska looked confused. "Jecht?"
"Trust me, I'll think of something." His laughter echoed throughout the grand hall. His chuckles died down and he regarded Auron with a critical eye.
"Can I ask you one last favour? Uh…nah. Never mind."
Auron stepped forward, "Out with it!"
Jecht grinned. "Okay. Listen good. Take care of my son. My son, in Zanarkand. He's such a crybaby. He needs someone there to hold his hand, see? Take care of him, will you?"
Auron frowned, "How am I supposed to go to Zanarkand?"
The older man laughed, his confidence in Auron obvious. "Hey! You said it yourself! There must be a way to get there, right? You'll find it. Bring him back here, raise him with Lesca to be strong like his old man."
"All right, I will! I give you my word. I'll take care of your son. I'll guard him with my life."
Jecht stepped forward with a sad smile, embracing the younger man tightly. "You were always such a stiff, but that's what I liked about you."
Auron waited until the men had ascended the stairs to their doom before he sank to his knees, depression overcoming him. He closed his eyes to still the tears, berating himself for his failure.
I am so sorry, I failed you. I failed us. Lesca, forgive me please! I…wasn't strong enough.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Have you heard? Lord Braska is summoning the Final Aeon! If you hurry you'll see it from the bridge!"
Lesca whirled around, the excited cries of the marketplace causing her to freeze. She caught the arm of a man running toward the bridge and stopped him.
"What is happening? Tell me!"
He shook his arm free, looking at her in disgust. "Jeez! No need to be like that! Braska's fighting Sin, you can see it from the bridge!"
He ran off, leaving her to follow dazedly. Her heart thundered in her chest.
This can't be happening! Auron, what went wrong? Oh Yevon, please come home to me safe!
Her feet pounded the concrete as she raced to the bridge, parting the crowds easily when they saw she was Braska's daughter. She skidded to a halt, a kindly soul catching her arm to ensure she didn't overstep the trestle. A bright light enveloped the sky, a flash of red and then…nothing. Sin disintegrated before the people's eyes, shouts of joy and cheers rising from the people as they watched the awesome spectacle.
Lesca watched in horror, unable to tear her eyes away as she realised her father had died before her very eyes. She sank to the ground, paying no heed to the tears teeming down her face. She was lifted limply onto the shoulders of well wishers, the air rife with praise for the heroic High Summoner Braska. She shook her head, trying to make sense of her world. A moan began to surface from her throat; building in intensity until it became a scream of pure grief. She stood alone, the only distraught face in a sea of happiness.
You did it. You brought them happiness, you are their light, their hope in you justified. You really did it. A part of me has died with you. I'm proud of you.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Auron pushed past the unsent man who tried to bar his path, his mind clouded with rage and thoughts of revenge, the image of his fallen comrades still freshly burned on his consciousness. I'll avenge their deaths, for you Lesca. I'll kill the damn witch!
He entered the great hall he had stood in only days previously, bellowing. "Yunalesca!"
The woman appeared, smiling. "Sin is conquered once more, all is well with Spira. The Calm is upon us once more. The deaths of your friends were more than worth this, were they not?"
Auron shook with rage; unable to believe the words she uttered. He drew his sword, his absolution in the eyes of Lesca fogging his judgement.
"No! 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!"
Yunalesca shook her head, "They chose to die…because they had hope."
The anger consumed him, a red mist settling over him. He let forth a cry of pure emotional agony, charging at the spectre with his sword held high. She tossed him aside easily, leaving the man wounded and broken. He lay, shivering as shock began to numb his body, his right eye closing heavily due to a deep wound. His whole right side began to throb, the fresh abrasions pooling crimson lifeblood around his prone figure. Reaching for his sword, he leaned his full weight onto the weapon, hauling himself to his feet.
The days and nights merged into one endless wretchedness as he made his way painfully toward his beloved, never resting to allow his strength to recover. As the entrance to Bevelle came into sight he grinned, wincing slightly as the pain in his chest grew. So intent was he on his goal, he never noticed the mountain of blue until he collided with it, knocking himself to the ground. He gasped, gripping his chest as he felt his heart struggle to continue. He looked up to meet the inquisitive gaze of a Ronso.
"You are Auron, Guardian to Braska." The sentence was a statement rather than a question and Auron nodded, the small movement taking his strength from him.
"Auron hurt. Kimhari take Auron to healer."
Auron shook his head, feeling the last of his strength ebb away. He let the tears flow down his face freely, his voice hoarse as he addressed the Ronso.
"There is no time left for me, my time on Spira is at an end. Will you do me one favour, my friend? Find Yuna, daughter of Braska; take her to Besaid, as far from this place as you can. Watch over her, please!"
The Ronso nodded, compassion in his feline eyes. Auron hesitated; whispering softly his last request as his heart began to still.
"There is another daughter, my wife, Lesca. Try and persuade her to accompany Yuna, she's so stubborn…" He laughed softly before the pain caused him to cease, his breathing becoming laboured. He gripped the hand of Kimhari urgently, haste of the utmost importance as he drew in his last breath.
"Tell her…I'm sorry. Tell her that I love her and that I am so sorry. I…never wanted to hurt her, if I could turn back time I'd…stay by her side, always."
The Ronso felt the weak grip subside, the mans hand falling gently to the ground. Auron's eyes rolled back, his head lolling to one side as his life finally deserted him. Kimhari ran a gentle paw over the warrior's eyes, closing them as a last show of respect for the fallen warrior before making his way to Bevelle.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lesca awoke with a start, a thin film of sweat covering her brow. She clutched her chest, a sharp pain coursing through her heart.
Auron…something's wrong…
