Author's note: Hello! And welcome to my lovely little FFX fic. I've had this idea in my head for quite some time, and so I've decided to finally run with it and see how far I can get.

Now, I have this thing where if my fanfics get too long, I tend to not finish them. Also, if a sequel comes out before I finish writing a sequel of my own, I usually scrap the whole thing. I don't know why, I just…do that.

So anyway, I'm going to try my best to finish this before FFX-2 comes out. If I don't, I may still continue, depending upon how far I get and how attached I become.

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ONLY! No reviews saying, "U LIKE TOTLY SUCK" or whatnot. Such things only prove your immaturity. I shall delete them.

Now please note: Though FFX is said to have been rather linear, there are some aspects of it that the player can change and dictate and whatnot. This story is based upon MY GAME. Some things I may have done slightly differently and hence may have come out differently than you might remember them from your game. If you would like an explanation for anything that I have put into my story, simply ask me. I'm a rather nice person, so I'll probably insert a small author's note or something…

Also, though I do live in the U.S. and won't be able to play FFX-2 until December (unlike the Japanese who've had it since March _) I have done my research and know a tid bit about the plot line and some of the characters. I have incorporated much of what I know into my story, though I have left out a few characters. But be rest assured, my story is much different from what I contemplate FFX-2 shall be.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to this wonderful game known as Final Fantasy X. Wish I did, though.

Though do note, I have bribed Rikku into sneaking into Lulu's closet and stealing her dress and moogle doll, and I have also hired Cloud from Final Fantasy VII to kidnap Tidus and Kimahri for me. ;D

PROLOUGE

Two years ago

The first thing he remembered when he came to after falling into a world of darkness was the sensation of being completely submerged in water. He wasn't sure exactly how long he'd been underwater, but his lungs felt as though he had just taken in one large breath and was now ready to stay under for a long time.

It has been said that the most talented of blitzers could sleep underwater if they wanted to. Now, he just so happened to be one of these blitzers, and hence knew this rumor to not be true at all. But he could still stay underwater for quite some time, just not forever.

He opened his eyes and raised his head slightly. He had been floating in a fetal position, arms wrapped around his legs. Looking around, he realized that he was in the ocean. He couldn't be too far from land, for the water was no more than fifteen feet deep. It was clear, and he could make out every rock and plant that dotted the floor.

He knew these waters. He had swum here before. But…it couldn't be. It just couldn't be. The dream…it had ended. Or had it? He then remembered something that the fayth in the Macalania temple had said to him.

"Let us create a new sea for you to swim."

Maybe that's just what they had done.

Unfurling from his fetal position, he stretched out his arms and legs. Then, looking upwards, began to kick and rise to the surface, breathing out as he did.

He broke through the surface and tossed back his head, flinging his bleached hair out of his face. Looking straight ahead of him he saw what he had felt he would never see again. He began to swim as fast as he could to shore. Once he could touch bottom, he broke into as close to a full run as one can in the water until he reached the beach.

Once he was beyond the reach of the waves he fell to his hands and knees, breathing heavily. He clutched a fistful of sand in his right hand and sat up. He slowly opened his hand, watching as the sand trickled out of it.

"Welcome home, Tidus," came a soft voice from behind him.

Tidus rotated his upper body around and saw a young boy wearing a blue hooded shirt. It was the fayth in the temple of Bevelle.

The fayth slowly walked around him, staring ahead at a large grouping of skyscrapers in front of them. Tidus turned back and faced forward as well, though keeping his eyes on the fayth, who simply stood there and said nothing.

"How…why…" Tidus began.

"Yes?" the fayth asked, turning his head to look at him.

"It's just that, I'm…alive. I think. But…the dream…I thought the dream ended!" Tidus stuttered, unable to form the words as fast as his brain was sending them to his mouth.

The fayth looked back at the city. "It did."

"But I'm still here!" Tidus cried, standing up. He walked over and stood in front of the fayth. "Zanarkand is still here!" He gestured towards the city with his left arm.

A bemused smile spread across the fayth's face. He looked up at Tidus and said softly, "You didn't think we would actually let you fade into non-existence, did you?"

Tidus blinked. "I…I wasn't sure what to think. I wasn't sure exactly what would happen when you all…woke up, or whatever."

The fayth let out a childish giggle and shook his head. "Silly. You're our children, all of you. You, this city and everyone in it."

"But weren't you tired of dreaming?"

"But we're not dreaming anymore. Now…we are remembering."

"Remembering?"

"We fayth are on the farplane now. We no longer need to dream nor do we any longer need Yu Yevon to create this Zanarkand." said the fayth, looking back up at Tidus.

Tidus grew quiet, not knowing how to reply to this. He shielded his eyes from the bright sun and peered up at the city. Then, smiling and looking down at his feet, a random thought popped into his head.

"What about the others?"

The fayth raised his eyebrow and gave him a quizzical look.

"You know! Yuna and Rikku and Wakka and Lulu and Kimahri! What happened to them?"

"They are in Spira, enjoying the eternal calm," the fayth replied.

"And what about…Auron?"

"He, too, is on the farplane. Finally able to rest after ten agonizing years."

"Hmm," Tidus replied.

"It's what he wanted. You know that. He accomplished what it was that kept him in the land of the living whilst he belonged in the realm of the dead. He is happier now. Everyone is."

"Yeah, I suppose they are," Tidus spoke heavily. "Can I…ever go back?"

"Go…back?"

"Yeah, go back to Spira."

The fayth let out a sigh. "No."

A muscle tightened in Tidus' stomach; his eyes grew suddenly wide. "Wha…what? Why not?"

"There are…rules. Rules that must be followed."

"What rules?" Tidus demanded. "Why can't I go back?"

"You didn't want to return to Zanarkand?"

Tidus diverted his eyes downward and bit his lower lip.

"It's not that. I do want to return to Zanarkand, but…I'd only want to go back to Spira to visit, you know? Why couldn't I just do that? I mean, they're my friends, and I…"

"You might see them again, some day."

"Might?"

"I'd explain it to you if I could, but you are still alive, and so I can't."

Tidus squinted his right eye and raised an eyebrow. "That…doesn't make sense."

"It will one day," the fayth replied, turning his head to look up at Tidus. "And you need not worry about it."

Tidus grew silent and let out a sigh.

"Now go," the fayth said abruptly.

"Excuse me?"

"Go, into the city, to your home. You are home, so go to it. Be happy."

Tidus glanced at the fayth and took a few reluctant steps forward. He stopped and turned around only to find the fayth gone.

He stood there for a moment, bewildered. Then Tidus whipped back around and with a cry of "Woohoo!" he took off running towards the buildings of the city that was the Zanarkand that never sleeps, the Zanarkand of the dream of the fayth, a wide smile upon his face.

He was home. Tidus was finally home.