This is my first Final Fantasy fanfic, and is about a character from FFX: Auron.
2 years after FFX-2 (hopefully that makes 4 years after FFX), Auron finds himself mysteriously back in Spira, and wonders why he has returned after his being sent 4 years ago by Yuna. Is it a mistake... or is it because of some higher purpose?
Right, to the story then. Please read & review... that way any mistakes I make I can learn from and be a better writer for you all :o)
1. Feeling the Nightmare
The temple was dark, and an eerie feeling was present. This feeling was not present the last time I had journeyed here, but it had been 4 years. A lot can happen in 4 years.
As I pulled myself to my feet, a sensation started to burn through my right leg. This… sensation… had been lost to me for so long… but I knew well what it was. I was experiencing pain again. This was, confusing to say the least. I was feeling pain, and I was standing upright in what was left of the Faith Chamber, in the ruins of the Zanarkand Temple.
I knew well that Yunalesca was long gone, but yet it seemed a presence, perhaps her… spirit… remained here. I found it hard not to laugh inside my head, I never did believe in the spirit living on after being sent. I had imagined it as the longest sleep anyone could ever imagine, and not ever waking up. Heh, I had even experienced the Farplane, not whilst on Yuna's pilgrimage you understand, but whilst with Braska.
He had told me stories, but I had never believed. Even the experience, the feelings I felt when I saw my mother again, after such a long time… I knew it wasn't real. He had told me,
"It is no-ones place to think they can't hear us, until we ourselves are of the Farplane residents. Until then, who are we to question the dead?"
This had brought little hope, however. I was still young, and such wisdom was lost upon such an immature mind as mine.
(- - Flashback - -)
"You know Auron, this place is thought to be the only possible link left… to contact those now lost in death. How does that make you feel?"
(- - End of flashback - -)
I had felt, undermined. I was still young, upon reflecting on it, probably no older than 21… but Braska, having been slightly older, had more experience in life than I did. Even so, my mind wouldn't let me think he could be right. My mind was set, my mother couldn't hear me, she was dead… sent by the Maester of Yevon, back in Bevelle.
After all that Yuna went through though, we finally found a way of killing Sin, permanently. And after having seen Jecht again, for one last time I had thought, we defeated Yu Yevon and ultimately defeated Sin, forever. Having felt my duties done to both Braska & Jecht, I asked Yuna to send me. It had come as a shock to them all, to see me already beginning to send as she performed the dance for Jecht. She did as I asked, and I had thought it to be the end to my existence… my life in Spira spent, at last.
How wrong could I have been, and after having been sent, seeing Braska & Jecht yet again, and my mother! I had felt such happiness, happiness I hadn't felt for so, so many years. I finally felt content, my duty in Spira done, and looking down on those who I had travelled with, I felt happy for them… we together had defeated Sin for good. However, Tidus shortly followed me to the Farplane, and this had brought Yuna much pain, as we could all tell.
Thinking back on all that had happened to me, it was no wonder I laughed inwardly at myself… at my stupidity of having always thought that way of the spirit. But now, I had no doubt, Yunalesca's spirit, or at very least her presence, was very much still here, even after all this time. I started to reflect again, on my confusion. I was back in Spira, that much was for sure. But… why?
I turned back, walking back towards the Cloyster of Trials. I felt that I would gain little insight into my situation by remaining in Yunalesca's Fayth Chamber, and anyway, after all that had happened to me there, I just wanted to leave. As I walked towards the door however, the feeling of Yunalesca began to grow stronger, much stronger. I began walking faster and faster, feeling that the quicker I was out of this room, the better. Before I was even close to the door however, I felt a force grab hold of me violently, and my feet started to lift off the floor. I was finding it hard to breathe, and my throat began to ache indescribably, I felt like I would die there and then, at the hands of Yunalesca… again.
- - - -
And at that moment, I awoke. My body shivering, I was sitting in a pool of sweat, and I realised it was all a nightmare. I had been here, in Besaid for almost 2 weeks, and the nightmares were subsiding, if only a little.
These nightmares always started the same way. I would have found myself in the Zanarkand Ruins… in the temple. I would take in my surroundings; remember what had happened to me… even down to me laughing at myself because of my beliefs about the spirit after being sent, it was always the same. And up until my attempted leaving of the Chamber of the Fayth, it was all the truth. That was exactly what had happened to me 12 days ago, when I arrived back in Spira. Everything afterwards, Yunalesca's spirit growing stronger and my eventual death by her power… it was all lies. It had not happened that way.
(- - Flashback - -)
"Ughhhhh… Grarghhhh! The doors… stuck…Urghhhhhh!"
When I tried to leave, the door was stuck closed. It was no use at all, even with my strength; it wasn't going to budge by my hands.
"... Is anyone in there? ... Helloooooo? I'm not hearing things… right?"
It was Wakka. Goodness knows why he was here, but I was too glad to question it.
"…Wakka? It's me! Auron! Get me out of here!"
Inwardly, I was ashamed. I had been in Spira a whole 5 minutes, and already I was stuck, needing Wakka's help… of all people. But I put such thoughts to the back of my mind. I needed to focus on escaping, and Wakka was going to help me do so.
"Auron? Wha the…? You serious man? I thought you were…? Hang in there… I have some explosives somewhere in this bag…"
He didn't warn me, but then again I hadn't expected him to. By the time the explosives had ignited and blown any rocks away from the entrance, I was already far away from it, hiding behind a pillar for cover.
(- - End of flashback - -)
"But if that is what really happened" I thought out loud, "why do my dreams turn into nightmares… with Yunalesca attacking me?"
I shook the thought from my head. 'A nightmare is a nightmare, and only a nightmare', I reasoned to myself. Looking at the time, I realised that I had overslept. 'I had better get up and go see Yuna.' I thought to myself.
Well, that's it for the first chapter :o)
After having read through this again, I must give credit to 'Gining'. The idea about him now being able to feel pain after so long in the Farplane, I now seem to remember being in one of your stories. If this bothers you at all, let me know in review or something and I will delete that bit from the chapter.
Well, thanks for reading, and please review! Its the only way I'll learn, plus I may only further this story if anyone shows interest... so if ya like it please let me know :o)
Thanks and be back soon!