A Shot At Life is my Final Fantasy X prequel fanfic. As of late May 2024 I have a full first draft, which is just over 375,000 words.
Braska believes he can solve everyone’s problems by becoming High Summoner; Auron is determined to change the course of history. Jecht just wants to find a way home. A story of their pilgrimage.
Auron and Braska meet Jecht in the prison in Bevelle. While Braska spends a final night with his daughter, Auron takes Jecht to the armoury.
Braska says goodbye to Yuna and the three travellers head into the forest. Jecht starts to learn about some of the ways in which Spira differs from his home.
The travellers arrive at their accommodation in Macalania. Auron attempts to gather information while Jecht visits a bar in the nearby village.
Brief mentions of self harm and suicidality.
Braska and his guardians travel to Macalania Temple to petition the fayth for her aeon.
Braska receives the aeon of Macalania, while Jecht learns more about Spira.
Braska and his guardians head back into the woods. Braska calls his new aeon, and wonders how to make Jecht feel at ease.
The travellers begin to cross the Thunder Plains. Jecht’s behaviour keeps Braska in good spirits to begin with, but later the summoner experiences a setback.
An unanticipated rest day forces Auron and Jecht to spend more time in each other’s company. Jecht goes for a swim, and Auron and Braska have a conversation that quickly turns sour.
After working together to see off a surprise sinspawn attack, Braska and his guardians arrive at Guadosalam. Auron attempts to consult the Guado archives, and Jecht discovers the consequences of the Final Summoning.
Despite some mishaps as they approach the Moonflow, the travellers manage to cross to the south side. Jecht resolves to change his ways.
Vomiting, brief suicidality, injury of an animal.
Jecht finds it difficult to cope without alcohol, but Braska’s magic provides welcome succour. The three arrive at the inn at Djose and discover an upsetting notice.
Misogynistic language.
Braska petitions for Djose Temple’s aeon, but finds himself hindered after an altercation in the temple.
Auron finds unexpected assistance at the Djose inn, and helps Braska recover after his encounter with the fayth.
The travellers continue to the Mushroom Rock Road, finding their progress impeded by Crusaders. A conversation about Zanarkand leads to an unwelcome discovery for Jecht.
Braska and his guardians move on to the Mi’ihen Highroad. Stopping at the travel agency gives Braska the chance to ask Jecht an important question, but an unexpected encounter casts a shadow over the evening.
The travellers arrive in Luca, where an unanticipated lockdown forces them to wait out the afternoon at a bar. A slip of the tongue briefly destabilises Braska, while Auron finds himself worrying about the next portion of the journey.
An eventful journey to Kilika Temple puts an end to the group’s financial troubles, but brings problems for Auron, who finds himself forced to rethink what is most important to him.
Vomiting, reference to suicidal feelings.
After nearly missing the ferry to Besaid, Braska and his guardians find a variety of ways to pass the time during the crossing, including taking spheres, playing cards, practising magic, and, in Auron’s case, attempting to rid himself of his new affliction.
The travellers arrive on Besaid, and immediately form strong opinions on the island. After paying a visit to the temple, Auron joins his companions on the beach, where he and Jecht have a more candid conversation than he had expected.
Braska enters Besaid Temple to petition for its aeon. After a traumatic encounter with the fayth, he finds himself relying on Auron for support.
Suicidal urges, self harm.
While Braska spends the day resting, Auron consults the temple archive and hones his skills against the local fiends. Jecht encounters Besaid’s blitzball team, gives them some advice, and learns about an intriguing folk tale.
Brief discussion of self harm.
Jecht learns some useful new abilities while Braska embarks on a tour of the island. Auron attempts to assist with a construction project, and attracts some unwanted attention.
Mentions of suicide.
During a trip to the beach, Braska finds himself joining in with the blitzball practice. Jecht is given a new sword, and asks Auron to help him test it. An evening gathering allows Braska to become more acquainted with Ginnem.
Braska and his guardians leave Besaid as the weather gets even hotter. On board ship, a storm confines Auron and Braska to their cabin, while Jecht makes himself useful.
Vomiting (offscreen).
The three travellers return to Kilika, where Braska is enlisted to perform a sending. Afterwards, the journey continues to Luca; Jecht wonders if there have been developments in Auron and Braska’s relationship.
Discussion of a dead body.
While Jecht visits the Luca blitzball stadium and Auron the library, Braska goes to have his hair cut and then begins his summoning practice. Later, after a strange encounter with Braska, Auron visits a certain establishment to see if it will help him take his mind off things.
Brief reference to suicide.
Jecht trains with the Psyches, while Auron returns to the library and makes a confusing discovery about Sin. Finding himself alarmed by Braska’s behaviour again, he visits the local temples before confessing his worries to Jecht.
Jecht persuades Auron to attend his blitzball matches while Braska embarks on the third day of summoning practice. Later, Jecht receives a gift from the Psyches, and refuses a talk about his emotions.
Back on the road, Braska insists on summoning so often that he quickly exhausts himself; after running into Maechen and fending off a sinspawn attack, the travellers arrive at their destination for the evening. Auron and Jecht have an odd encounter with Perula and her guardians, while Braska undergoes a life-changing experience.
Suicidal thoughts, misogynistic language.
Jecht’s insistence on doing a good deed lands Auron in trouble, but Braska is on hand to help. After making a detour, Jecht and Auron come across some information that turns things sour again for the latter.
The travellers pass through Djose once more, where Jecht steps in to save Auron from an awkward encounter, but ends up doing more harm than good. After a strange meeting with a young priest, Auron tries to confess his worries to Braska.
Veiled references to homophobic attitudes.
Forced to find an alternative means of crossing the Moonflow, Braska and his guardians end up relying on the Al Bhed for transport. Jecht realises how he travelled to Spira, and a sinspawn attack has unpleasant consequences.
Moderately gory death of a minor character, vomiting.
Braska finds himself afflicted with another unexplained headache, but manages to recover in time to attend a banquet in his honour at Jyscal Guado’s manor. There, he discovers that he and Jyscal share certain similarities.
As the event at Jyscal’s mansion continues, Auron attempts to reconnect with the Guado archivist, while Jecht finds that he and Jyscal have different attitudes towards parenting.
After a visit to the Farplane, Braska has to use the aeons to gain the strength to leave Guadosalam. Later, Jecht indulges his competitive nature while Auron briefly gives in to his desires.
Brief allusions to suicidality, very brief discussion of underage sexual activity.
Things seem to be looking up as the party travel across the Thunder Plains and into the woods, but a difficult battle forces them all to take stock.
More interference with the pilgrimage results in a diversion and an encounter with someone from Auron’s past. As things become more difficult for Auron, he at last turns to Jecht for help.
The journey continues to the Calm Lands, where Auron continues to be ill at ease. An encounter with another summoner forces Braska to come to a realisation about his aeons, while Jecht finds something he hopes will help his companions relax.
Recreational drug use, vomiting.
Braska makes an ill-fated attempt at getting through the day without the aeons’ help. Auron is determined not to forgive Jecht for last night’s behaviour, but finds himself relying on his fellow guardian for support as his own mental state becomes increasingly unstable.
Self-induced injury, panic attacks (which also occur in some subsequent chapters, but are described in less detail).
Auron continues to struggle, and finds himself in a deeply unpleasant situation with the arrival of a delegation from Bevelle. Considering his plans at last, he resolves to ask Jecht for help one more time.
Death of minor characters, vomiting.
As the travellers move onto Mount Gagazet, the fiends and cold climate prove challenging. Auron learns what he can from the Ronso; Braska takes a final sphere for Yuna, with Jecht’s encouragement.
Heading into the Gagazet caves, Jecht has an experience that alters his attitude towards the pilgrimage. Braska finds his bond with the aeons put to the test, and afterwards, Auron comes to a realisation.
Braska and his guardians head into the ruined city, disturbed by visions of past summoners and their companions. Jecht busies himself with trying to stop Auron breaking down by any means necessary, until the three travellers suddenly discover what truly awaits them.
Misogynistic language.
Jecht realises how he can be of most help to the pilgrimage, and Braska learns Auron’s secret. After their duties in Zanarkand are complete, Braska and Auron return to the Ronso settlement
Misogynistic language.
After a surprise audience with Kelk Ronso, Braska and Auron make their way back to the Calm Lands. Auron considers what to do after the Final Summoning, and tries without much success to make Braska feel better. Braska attempts to gather his thoughts enough to put his feelings for Auron into words.
Quasi-sexual behaviour involving a nonconsenting person, hunting of animals (for food).
With the help of a pair of Calm Lands traders, Auron survives the Final Summoning, and returns to Braska’s side for the last time. An unwelcome encounter adds insult to injury; Auron decides to return to Zanarkand, alone.
Death of a major character, homophobic language and references to homophobic acts.
Auron tries to gather his spirits and continues his journey, struggling through the Gagazet trials and eventually arriving in Zanarkand, where the visions of previous summoners show him the true meaning of the Final Summoning. Enraged, he attempts to confront Yunalesca.
Vomiting.
Gravely wounded, Auron makes his way to the south edge of the Calm Lands, where Kimahri and Rin do their best to help him.
Death of a major character, gore.
Bevelle celebrates the Calm. Auron and Jecht have one last conversation.
Misogynistic language.
If you’re familiar with my other FFX fics, you’ll find some recurring themes in this one; the way I write about these characters has developed since my first FFX stuff in 2021, and I don’t always use the exact same characterisation, but certain things have become more fixed in my mind as I’ve explored this universe more over the years.
This fic contains explicit sexual content, death, and various other things that people may not like. If you know FFX, you know what happens to Braska and his guardians; if you don’t, this can probably be read canon-blind, but I apologise in advance. If you want more detailed information, you can expand the below, all of which contain spoilers for the fic.
This fic is m/m.
The main ship is Auron × Braska. The exact nature of this relationship remains ambiguous. While Auron is in love with Braska, Braska’s feelings towards him are unclear, even to himself. They grow more intimate as the story progresses, embrace and kiss a lot, and share a bed on two occasions.
Most sexual content in this fic concerns Auron × Jecht; they develop a “friends with benefits” relationship in the later chapters.
Jecht also pursues women at a couple of points, and has sex with one of them (offscreen, but discussed briefly in a later chapter).
I consider this to be a canon compliant fic. There are a few potential exceptions to this, but here I offer attempts at justifying those.