A/N: All right, I want to clarify some things here at the begining before I

start getting tons of complaints/questions about my time refrences. I am basing

this fic on the assumption that the pilgrimage took approximately one year to

complete, and that Braska, Auron and Jecht spent around a year preparing for the

journey, since Yuna remembered Jecht telling her lots of stories and spending

time with her. This is MY PERSONAL OPINION on their pilgrimage, and is in no way

cannon. And now, onto the disclaimer and my new chapter.

SOME MORE DISCLAIMER: I don't own FFX, FFX-2, the characters, or any of

square-enix's copyrighted material. I am not out to make any money from this

fiction. This story is just a work of fun, and is owned exclusively by me.
The ruins had not changed in the two weeks I had been away. They were

still dark and bleak. And still filled with fiends and sorrow. No matter what

Jecht had told me, I did not want to be here.

And yet, here I was.

The city was still blocking my view of Sin, but I knew it was there. I

could feel it--and it made my skin crawl. Jecht or no, I was damned close to

just turning my back and leaving.

I stepped into the debris strewn courtyard tat Jecht had said was the

entrance to the Blitzball stadium before I could change my mind.

There was no more time to escape the job I'd gotten myself into. Taking

a deep breath, I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword and stepped through

Sin's quicksilver skin.

"I was beginning to think that you wouldn't make it."

"I ran into Kinoc at Lake Macelania. He slowed me down by a day." I gave

Jecht a half grin. "I knew you'd wait for me.

"Sure, as long as I could. Yu Yevon's getting stronger." He shook his

head. "Dunno how long 'til I'm gonna have to fight for control."

"I'm sorry. But he's the only person left in Spira that will care what

happened to me. I had to say goodbye."

"I know, Auron. And I understand. We're just running out of time faster

now."

As if to lend import to his words, the "ground" we were standing on

shook beneath our feet.

"Damn," Jecht spat. "He's listening. Time to go." He grabbed my arm and

began dragging me to the center of the sphere. "Don't forget, it's the boat at

the end of the docks. My wife will probably be on the deck still looking for me.

If you get lost, just ask around for Jecht's place."

We were rapidly approaching what looked like a brightly lit city. "Give

my wife this, so that she'll know you aren't lying." He pressed a bundle into my

hands. "And wear the glasses so that you don't scare the runt with your scar. I

dunno when I'll be back, so keep and eye out." We were standing on a cliff

overlooking the city. "Watch your back. I'll miss you."

I turned to look at him. "Jecht--"

He shoved me over the cliff. "Sorry," he yelled. "We don't have time for

long goodbyes!"

I blacked out somewhere during the fall.
The sun on my face and children's laughter woke me. I stood up and

looked around. My surroundings were very foreign--and very tall. This city was

much more…cosmopolitan than Luca or Bevelle. And it seemed vaguely familiar

despite the daylight. It really couldn't be anyplace but Jecht's Zanarkand.

I realized that I was holding Jecht's bundle in a death grip and

loosened it quickly, lest I destroy its contents. Surprisingly, the dark glasses

he'd given me had survived both the fall and my grip. Idly, I wondered how he'd

gotten them--its not like Sin was a wandering item shop.

"Don't scare the boy," I mumbled as I put them on. "As if I'll be

getting around that."

The children I'd heard where playing with a ball in a grassy park.

Hesitantly I walked over to them. Their laughter and their game stopped as soon

as they saw me. The youngest--a girl of no more than four--squealed and dashed

behind an older boy.

Dealing with children was not my strongest suit. Braska had always been

so much better at it than I. My only real--or extensive--experience was with

Yuna. I could only hope these children would respond to a stranger's question as

she would.

"I'm looking for the docks. Can you tell me where that is?"

A girl about Yuna's age pointed. "Down that street."

I nodded to her. "Thank you."

The street she'd indicated was narrow, but bright and I felt a bit more

at ease as I walked down it. Although nothing could calm my nerves about

approaching Jecht's wife and son.

I don't know how long I walked down the road. It could have been five

minutes or an hour. My time sense seemed distorted in this place. But eventually

I reached the docks.

It was a busy bustling place. More boats filled the slips than were in

the combined fishing fleets of both Killika and Besaid Islands. And I could see

several more ships out to sea. I despaired of ever finding Jecht's home.

Slowly, I began to walk toward the closer end of the docks. I was hoping

to get lucky and walk the shorter distance, thereby satisfying my need to have

my conversation with Jecht's wife over with. Of course, if I had chosen wrongly,

then I would have to walk back to the other end of the docks, satisfying my

desire to delay the inevitable.

I needn't have worried. No more than a third of the way to my

destination, I was approached by a young woman.

"I beg your pardon, sir," she said, "but you seem lost."

She was a small woman, not much taller than a girl, with a thin frame and bright

blue eyes. She looked tired, and I was surprised that she would go out of her

way to aid a stranger. She looked to be on here way home from the market and I

was almost loathe to delay her any longer.

But I did. "I'm looking for the home of a man named Jecht. Can you tell

me where I can find it?"

She looked at me with sad, tear filled eyes. "Why? So that you can ask

for an autograph? Or beg for blitzball lessons for you son? Or maybe you just

want to take him out for a drink so that you can brag to all your friends later.

Well, which is it?"

The woman's tone should have been bitter or angry, but the mention of

Jecht's name had dragged her into the depths of sorrow. I couldn't believe that

I had run into his wife like this on the street. "I have a news for his wife and

son. And a message."

She put her hands to her face, sobbing. Her market bag fell to the

ground, forgotten, and I heard something inside shatter. Impulsively, I put my

arm around her as I would have Yuna, and let her cry herself out. I felt a bit

self-conscious, but none of the hundreds of people around us seemed to notice.

The storm passed as quickly as it had started. She pulled back from me

looking a bit embarrassed and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry. Its just that he's

been gone for so long…" She shook her head. "The house is this way."

The woman walked off, her market bag completely forgotten. I picked it

up and quickly followed.

She entered the cabin of the boat and left the door standing

open--neither inviting me in, or shutting me out. I entered and saw here

standing numbly in the main room. Cautiously, I touched her shoulder.

When she looked at me, I held out her bag. "You forgot this."

Numbly, she took the bag. "Thank you." Her voice was hollow, and I

wondered if she was always like this at home. My heart went out to the boy if

she was.

"Where is your son?" I wanted to tell the story just once, if I could.

"Hmm? Oh, Tidus. He's probably still at blitzball practice."

Damn. I had been asking for too much good luck in one day. "All right.

Perhaps you should put away your shopping before I tell you of Jecht."

"It will keep. I want to hear about my husband."

It seemed the inevitable was upon me. "You will want to sit down for

this. It is a long story."

When she'd done as I suggested, I took a deep breath and began. "My name

is Auron. I met your husband two years ago, in the city of Bevelle…"