Disclaimer, I do not own the Final Fantasy franchise. Nor do I own Zanarkand. But I do own myself and my ideas.

Stand Still

*

Time seemed to pass slowly as I watched the city fall. I had my hand wrapped tightly around my belongings, my father's last words whispered to me ringing in my ears as if he had shouted them, screamed at me. I was confused and I didn't know what to do. But I felt a hand clasp on mine and I knew I was not alone. I had my guardian, my husband, and knew he would stay with me forever. Until I managed to discover what I had to do. Or maybe it was what I wanted to do that mattered. Did I respect my father's last wishes? Or watch and wait, seeing what Spira needed me to do?

One thing was for sure, the war was over.

I watched, the only person seeing the two cities. The two Zanarkands. One above, the Fayth City, one below, the real city. The one below was empty of life, at least, empty of it's natives. The soldiers from Bevelle were finishing their tirade, tearing through the city, killing anyone left. The one above, the city that was becoming to form, the dream of my father, was drifting away slowly. I watched as the memories went around and around, spires and towers beginning to form. It was beautiful. But my father's words continued to ring in my ears.

"I will protect it at any cost. Even that of Spira. Stay away Yunalesca. Do not try and save them. They do not deserve mercy."

I couldn't help but worry about the cost of Zanarkand's preservation. There was that of the citizens, chosen to be the Fayth. I understood the pain that they would go through, forever, unless someone stopped it. I had wanted no part of it. That was why I stood still now, on the edges watching. My father had banished me from his world, ashamed that I did not want to summon his dream forever like his people.

Zaon slipped his hand into mine, squeezing it, his eyes not seeing the chaos that reigned in the sky above. The city was flashing dangerously as it was summoned and re-summoned and the loop went around. He tried to pull me from the hill top but I needed to see how my father would protect his kingdom. It would not stay hidden forever.

I gasped as I saw the shield begin to form, or the armor as was more fitting. Grey parts, flesh parts, begin to build and form itself. I saw it rise with my own eyes, the deaths below becoming a part of it, the evil intent of the men, the lust, the greed, the anger, the pain. All of the bad things that each of the Bevellians held in their hearts was becoming part of the shield for Zanarkand. That which had destroyed Zanarkand was becoming that which would protect it. I could think of only one name for all the bad things that had formed it.

Sin.

Each and every thing that had risen into the sky was a sin of some sort. It was Spira's sin. And Spira's biggest sin was that it destroyed Zanarkand.

I turned and slipped my hand into Zuan's. I would watch and wait to see what was born from this sin. And then I would decide what to do.

Confused thoughts raged in my head as I walked on. Should I stay loyal to my father or to Spira, whom I was bound to by my practice?