He was tired. In every sense he was tired. Reliving parts of his life that he never thought of again... the pain of the battles.. Braska.

I'm tired.

But you're almost there. I know this.

I just need rest.

If you rest now, you may never wish to wake from the rest.

But...

Just a bit longer.

Fine. I hope you're right.
-
My senses were alive for the first time since the beginning of Braska's journey. Zanarakand seemed to bring that out in me, but I'm not sure why. Zanarkand, the city of the dead, and yet, I felt more alive than I had since the beginning. But in the long run, I was heavy. Braska would soon pay for Spira's peace. The price he would pay? His own life.

I knew there had to be a way he could live. I had long stopped thinking he would stop his pilgrimage, and in truth, I would be grateful for his sacrifice, even if I'd never see him again. It was a rough turn of events. But I had no time to focus on that now. We made our way through the destruction of the Zanarkand blitzball dome, fighting fiends to protect the man I had come to respect and admire.

The cloister of trials went by in what seemed like seconds, but in actuality was more like hours, and soon they found themselves in front of a dead fayth.

"What the..." Jecht grumbled. This obviously wasn't making him happy. In turn, I agreed. If the Zanarkand fayth was gone...

"Master Summoner. I bid you welcome on behalf of Lady Yunalesca."

I was shocked. The first summoner... Lord Zaon's mate... It came as a shock. The teachings had always been so vague about the holy city Zanarkand. But even I would never have expected this old man to deliver us such a tiding.

"Prepare yourselves to meet the Lady. She awaits you beyond," the old man pointed, and faded away, to be called on by a later summoner.

We walked in silence, and as we did, an irrational thought crossed my mind. Had this place originally been an Abe locker room? I know, it's a bit unusual, but I wasn't completely in my right mind at that point. I was soon to lose a friend.. and I had no way to save him.

We walked into an odd room. It looked like it was above Zanarkand.. but as much as I looked, I couldn't see any sign of the great city around us. Before us as we came to a stop, a hauntingly beautiful woman appeared. Her hair was balanced perfectly away from her head, defying gravity with its existence. And her clothes didn't leave much to the imagination, but... anyway.

Lady Yunalesca.

I cupped my hands in the prayer motion. To see the lady was a great honor, and even in my saddened state, I knew this. I praised Yevon for the opportunity I had been given, no matter the circumstance.

"Greetings Master Summoner. I welcome you to the lost city of Zanarkand. Choose your aeon wisely, Master Summoner."

I stopped in the midst of what I had been thinking. Choose your aeon? What did she mean? I could sense confusion in both Braska and Jecht.

"Master Summoner, you saw with your own eyes. The Final Aeon's fayth has long deceased. The barrier protecting it long disapated, the capsule cracked. You must choose your aeon."

"I don't understand, my Lady," Braska said.

"You must choose one of your guardians, to fight with you till the death. To become that which you need to destroy the proprietor of the spiral of death. The guardian of your choice will become the Final Aeon."

Braska seemed to consider this. His forehead crinkled slightly in thought.

"I see," He finally said.

He turned to both me and Jecht, as if to ask a question. I would willingly give my life for my summoner.

"Lord Braska. I request you choose me," I answered to his unasked question, but before Braska could answer, Jecht stepped forward.

"Braska. Auron's already got to take care of your kid. I'm not making it home. Let me be your aeon."

Braska nodded, and before I could protest, Jecht turned to me.

"Auron. If you ever see my kid... no, let me say this differently. Auron, take care of that cry-baby. And tell 'em... ah... I don't know. Think up something cool. Tell 'em I said it."

"I will," I replied, but then he grabbed me tightly by the shoulder.

"Auron. Promise me. You gotta make sure you take care of that kid. He cries way too damn much, and if that's all he's gonna do, you gotta make sure he's gonna be all right. Give me your word, Auron."

I sat stunned. Jecht was literally begging me now.

"Of course Jecht. I promise."

"Thanks. You're a good man, Auron. Don't let anyone tell you different," Jecht said then turned away.

"Are you prepared?" Yunalesca asked Braska, and he started to nod, but then stopped and turned back towards me.

"Auron. Please. Remember to take care of Yuna. I beg of you."

"My lord, I promised you once. And if it will serve you, then I will do it again. I promise that I will make sure Yuna is taken care of, as I will Jecht's son."

Jecht nodded, then turned back towards Lady Yunalesca, then held out his hands in the prayer gesture.

"I'm ready, my Lady."

Yunalesca nodded, and looked at Jecht.

"Are you sure?"

Jecht nodded, and closed his eyes.

"As sure as I can be."

Yunalesca smiled, then looked over both of them.

"I wish you luck, Master Summoner, in your battle with Sin."

Her arms parted, and on her lips she muttered the language of magic's long forgotten. A bright flash surrounded us all.

As the flash subsided, I looked around again. We were on the outskirts of Zanarkand. At least, me and Braska were. He held his hands in the prayer gesture, and murmured a quick prayer. Then, standing straight, he looked towards me.

"Sin comes."

The ground started shaking almost immediately. And then I saw it coming.

In truth, I don't remember much of what happened during the battle. Whether to blame this on Sin, or something else, I don't know. I heard a roar like none other, and I heard magic and explosions, but surprisingly none hit me. As I started to come around, the first thing I noticed was a different beast near Braska, who was down on his knees.

Of course, I reasoned. Every aeon drew on the power of its summoner. The Final Aeon was so powerful, that it needed so much of the summoner's power, that it killed them. And Braska was almost down.

I yelled, acting quickly. Maybe I could save Braska yet.

I started trying to conjur up a spell for curing Braska, but no matter how hard I tried, I kept getting distracted, my own magic power dropping. I watched in sadness and anger, as Braska lost the last of his energy. Almost at the same time, the area became silent.

Sin's body started to crumble into dust, as well as the sinspawn that had been battling the final Aeon. The aeon in question looked around in wonder, and I idly wondered whether Jecht would somehow be placed in Zanarkand.

But then something changed. The Aeon started to darken, and it looked around in fear. I could only watch in fear as it started to mutate, growing fins and scales. It writhed in pain as it fell towards the water, with a splash. Even through the water, I could hear its wails of pain. I couldn't take anymore, and I ran away from the battle site.

Without knowing, I had run back into the dome. Sitting just inside, for the first time, I felt my confusion.

What was this? What had happened to Braska's Aeon? It had looked familiar... but I couldn't place it. Then it hit me.

It had been battling Sin. And now, it was starting to looking like a Sinspawn.

It was becoming Sin.

I didn't understand it, and I forced angry tears back. I didn't have answers, but I knew who would. Without another thought, I ran quickly towards the Zanarkand Temple. Monsters seemed to avoid me in my rage, and soon I found myself inside. In the time we had been gone, the Cloister had not reset, and I ran through without a problem. The old man confronted me, and I ran past him without a thought. Soon, I found myself in front of the woman I had so recently felt 'blessed' to meet.

Now I was angry.

"What is this!"

She smiled somewhat, but for the first time, I could see the creulty.

I unsheathed my sword and sliced the air. My angry slash made the air ripple around the blade, and I slowly walked towards her.

"Jecht. The Final Aeon. Turning into Sin. Why?" My anger was leading me to broken sentences, I sliced again.

"Sin, is eternal."

"But the teachings-"

"Are wrong. Sin will be Spira's reaper eternally. Yu Yevon makes sure of that."

I sat in shock... my friends... my life... what was it for? What...

"WHAT IS THIS FOR!" I protested, slicing again angrily, my blade breaking the ground beneath that I struck.

"The time that Sin matures gives Spira hope. Instead of perpetual sorrow... it gives them hope."

"False hope! If Sin always returns..." I trailed off angrily, then looked at her, a fire blazing in my eyes.

"Hope, of any kind, is comforting. It allows one to accept their fate.. no matter how tragic it may be."

I was angry. With every word, she fueled me on.

"Where is the sense in all this?" I screamed, unable to to contain my anger. I sliced, then continued.

"Braska believed in Yevon's teachings and died for them!"

"Jecht believed in Braska and gave his life for him!" I finished, slicing an 'x' in the air.

"They chose to die... because they had hope."

I could take no more. I charged and jumped towards her, attempting to cleave her in half. My blow however, never connected. I don't entirely remember what happened, but I was knocked back. When I came to, I knew something for sure.

I wasn't dead.. but I soon would be.

"Leave me now, pitiful mortal. Before your death permeates this holy place."

I crawled.. and crawled... I don't know how long I crawled. I made it through snow... grass... stone, with only one word in my mind. One name.

"Yuna..."
-
The darkness grew lighter still after he was finished with his tale. He felt maybe he had been abandoned because of his own story.

You found the Ronso then, didn't you?

And yet, still, the questions continued.

Yes. I told him to protect Yuna. Then I...

You what?

I died.

No. You didn't.

What?

The voice left him, and the darkness now was almost gone, replaced by a comforting white. He floated, considering his own life. The one of which he had made friends, and enemies.

The one that had allowed him to fail his friend Braska.