Lulu collapsed beside Lady Ginnem in front of the campfire as she tried to catch her breath. They'd done it, they'd crossed the Calm Lands. Both women sat freezing and breathless as they held their palms toward the flames in an attempt to warm them.

They'd found a hidden opening in the mountainside across the endless plains known as the Monster Arena. An older gentleman had allowed Lulu and the summoner a place outside the arena's entrance to rest their heads for the night.

He'd said it was too dangerous and would have been far too noisy inside the actual mountain where he kept his monsters from across Spira. Sure enough, creatures howled throughout the night without falter. Luckily, the two women were exhausted enough from their months of fighting to sleep through anything that night.

Lulu huddled closer to the summoner and wrapped her arm around her friend. They had grown exceptionally close since their journey begun. They'd had to use each other for body heat on many occasions starting from the Thunder Plains and through their frozen visit of Macalania Woods.

Holding Lady Ginnem close at night especially beneath their large fur blanket, Lulu would sometimes have certain urges and immediately think of Chappelle. She wondered what the lithe blitzer was up to at that moment and was she thinking of Lulu too?

Leaving her arm securely wrapped around the summoner, Lulu reached in her cleavage for the letter Chappelle gave her the day she and Lady Ginnem left Besaid. The crumpled piece of parchment must have had a thousand wrinkles from being read a thousand times over.

The summoner chuckled beside Lulu as she unfolded the note with her free hand to read again. Lady Ginnem had witnessed Lulu reading the letter on multiple occasions. It was the only contact Lulu had with Chappelle if it even counted as such. It made the woman she loved feel closer somehow.

To my dearest love, my heart, my Lulu,

I know I was angry when I learned the truth of Lady Ginnem's arrival, but I've given much thought to the promise you made to be her guardian so many years ago. I know you want to rid Spira of Sin. Like me, you want a better world for everyone; for Yuna, for our friends, for Spira.

You should be commended for your pure heart alone. It is why I love you and support you in your quest. I only wish Lady Ginnem would have accepted my request to become her guardian too. (Though it is understandable her decline if I'm still landing on my face in Blitzball.) She must have a lot of faith in you. She must see what I see. A strong woman, a loyal friend, and a brave companion.

The road ahead will be a long and arduous one, Lulu. I want you to know, should you fail, I will be the first to welcome you back home with open arms. Coming back home IS okay. I'm counting on asking you a big question when you return. So make sure you come back! (How's that for motivation?)

Then we can find other ways to fight Sin together. To save everyone, to save us, to save Yuna.

I love you with all my heart. I can't wait until you're back in my arms so I can show you how much I've missed you. Keep that in mind. But when you're cold and missing me on your journey, know I am there in spirit and always will be.

Until we meet again,

Chappelle.

Lulu refolded the letter and tucked it away again as a single tear cascaded down a too pale cheek as it always did. Chappelle's words sparked a flame within her chest every time. It hurt being away from the one she loved for so long.

Lulu picked up the small stuffed moogle Chappelle had gifted her before she left. It was an odd looking creature; the toy was in the shape of a cat without a tail and had x's for eyes. The fabric of its body beige save for the purple batwings. Lastly, an antenna stuck out of its head with a red ball at the end.

The mage hugged it close as she thought of that glorious morning Chappelle had surprised her with it. They had fought the day before when Lady Ginnem arrived, and Lulu announced her leaving. Chappelle had been furious but only because she didn't want Lulu to go. In reconcile, Chappelle gifted the stuffed toy to the mage and hidden the letter among Lulu's things.

"No tears my friend. We will be back in Besaid before you know it."

Lulu smiled as Lady Ginnem turned in the mage's arms to gently wipe the tear from her eye. The summoner had the softest touch Lulu had ever known.

"I just miss her so much," Lulu sobbed.

Lady Ginnem rubbed Lulu's shoulder next. "Let's sleep now, Lulu. Hold me tight tonight. It's freezing."

Lulu nodded before obediently pulling their large fur blanket tighter over them both. She scooted as close to the summoner as she could, spooning her as closely as she might Chappelle and slipping an arm back around her waist.

As Lulu rested her head and sleep began to weigh heavy on her lids, an unexplained sense of dread suddenly fell over her. Something disconcerting sat and bubbled in the pit of her stomach.

Shrugging off the odd sensation, Lulu slipped into sleep.