AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you haven't beaten the game, don't read this fan fiction. It has many spoilers. No, really, stop reading right now.
You've beat it, then? Okay. This story takes place after Yuna and co. defeated Yunalesca, and before they attacked Sin. Basically, the time when many players level up to get ready to take on Sin. I've tried to keep things totally consistent with FFX's story, but since I haven't played FFX-2 yet, there may be minor conflicts with its plot.
Chapter 1 – The SummonerTidus blocked a beam of energy shot by a screaming fiend.. I'm getting good at this, he thought. Wakka launched a blitzball at the head of the black-scaled, serpentine fiend that had shot the beam, and it recoiled. Tidus lunged in, and the fiend finally collapsed, pyreflies swarming around its head.
Tidus's eyes snapped towards another fiend not far too his left, only to see Lulu dispatch it with a blast of light—a flare, she called it. She was getting good at this, too. In fact, Tidus reflected, the entire party was getting very good at fighting.
"So, when will we fight it?" Tidus asked Auron after the fight ended.
"Sin, you mean?" Auron replied. "Soon. I don't think you're ready for it yet."
"Of course not," Tidus said. "Do you think we could at least find a more interesting way to train? These things—"
"Anaconduars, you mean?" Lulu interrupted.
"Yeah, whatever. They're boring. When will we fight something more challenging?"
"Be careful what you wish for," Auron said. "We'll face Sin soon enough, and I doubt you'll find it very enjoyable."
"Ah, whatever…" Tidus muttered. He walked away from Auron and towards Yuna.
"Looking forward to the final fight with Sin?" he asked Yuna.
Yuna smiled sadly, and said nothing.
That was a dumb thing to say, Tidus realized. Yuna might not be dying when we fight Sin, but…there's no way she's wanting it to happen.
"I'm sorry," he blurted. "I wasn't thinking."
"It's no problem," Yuna mumbled.
She looked down. "I don't feel ready. I know I have everything I need…I've prayed to all the Fayths, even the hidden ones, like in the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth. But I don't feel like it's enough." She looked up. "What do you think?"
"I think you're doing great," Tidus said. "You've got it. We can definitely defeat Sin."
Some people thought Tidus wasn't really as confident as he seemed. Always the "We're gonna win!" attitude, always so boisterous. They were right, sometimes. Tidus hated to seem negative. If he felt worried, he'd pretend he didn't.
Right now, however, he wasn't pretending confidence. He was absolutely sure they'd defeat Sin. Unfortunately, that was exactly what he was afraid of.
I should say…something to Yuna. Before I'm gone. He sighed. As if I have any idea what to say.It was late afternoon, and Tidus and the other guardians were looking for more fiends to battle. Auron was in the front of the group, keeping an eye out for the next battle. He turned to Tidus.
"There's someone coming toward us."
"A fiend?" Tidus asked.
"No. A human, or something like a human."
They walked a little further, and noticed that the human was actually a Guado.
"Greetings," the Guado said, nearing them. "My name is Prammel. And you…" He turned towards Yuna. "…are the summoner Yuna, are you not?"
Auron spoke. "She is. What of it?"
The Guado bowed. "I'm honored to meet you." He straightened. "But enough of that. I should get to business.
"By now, I'm sure you know the Guado are quite unpleased with you. Seymour dead, the temple declaring you a traitor…it's quite a list, and I could go on with it for longer. That's why they haven't told you about the Fayth. I've come to tell you about it."
"What Fayth are you talking about?" Yuna said.
"A hidden one," Prammel answered. "The Guado recently found it, deep in the Thunder Plains. Of course, they kept it quite secret. Even the temple doesn't know of it yet."
"Why you tellin' us this?" Wakka interjected.
"Why, quite simple," Prammel replied. "I believe summoner Yuna is our last hope of defeating Sin. It is in my best interests—or, rather, Spira's best interests—that she win."
Auron said, "Wait here a little while. We need to speak privately."
They walked some distance away from Prammel. "I think we should go for it," Tidus said, as soon as he was out of the Guado's earshot. "We need every Aeon we can get if we want to defeat Sin."
"That's not the question," Lulu countered. "We don't know if there even is another Aeon. And the Thunder Plains is…quite a suspicious place for a Fayth."
"I agree!" Rikku chirped nervously. "We already went through that place once. Once is enough!"
"Auron," Tidus said, "You're the one who's going to make the decision anyway. What do you think?"
"I say we're going," Auron said. "We can't take the risk of missing a Fayth that could give us more strength to battle Sin. And if it's a trap, well…" He looked at Tidus. "You're the one who wanted more of a challenge."
Auron walked over to the Guado along with the rest of the guardians. Rikku was trembling almost violently. "We're going," he said to Prammel. "Can you tell us where, exactly, the Fayth is?"
"Oh, better than that," the Guado replied. "I can take you there."
"Good," Auron said. "We leave tomorrow morning."
Tidus glanced at Rikku. She looked like she was about to cry.
Later that night, Prammel reflected on what the day had brought. They were more gullible than I expected! He though. Trommel was right. We should be able to avenge Maester Seymour quickly.
One problem did disrupt his thoughts. The question is, if Yuna will not defeat Sin, who will? He pushed the thought from his head. There were other summoners. If this motley band of traitors could find a way to defeat Sin, surely others could as well. The next morning, he could begin executing the plan.