The battle was a bit similar as the first. Melanie told Yuna of her plan to stop him from coming back and it had to be done with speed once they were able to defeat him. Three of them weren't holding back. They weren't letting Seymour's spells get the best of them like last time. Yuna was on the side lines, keeping herself hidden while healing to keep them standing. Melanie had stayed with her to make sure she would not engage into battle. Melanie noticed Yuna seemed distracted. She knew her faith was broken. She was betrayed. This was the main reason why Melanie didn't want Yuna to fight. To be out of focus like that could mean a life would be lost. Though, the others were struggling, this time they weren't just running around, trying to keep away from his spells.
It was a success. Seymour had fallen again and everyone ran off. They thought Yuna was taken out of there.
"Yuna, now's the perfect time to send him as quickly as possible," Melanie directed her.
Yuna stood before Seymour and began her dance, doing this with haste. Melanie watched Seymour glance up at Yuna with a struggle to even stand. Pyreflies danced around him. He looked regretful. He reached out to her slowly, trembling, not saying a single word, yet it looked like he wanted to say something, before he was sent to the farplane. Melanie grabbed Yuna's arm and ran out of there to meet with the others, giving them a bit of a scare when they couldn't find Yuna or Melanie around at first. Seeing how Yuna looked, no one said a word that night, not even to reassure her that things would be alright. The main deed was done and that was important. Seymour would bother them no more.
There was only one really good place to get lost in, or to lose those that could be following. The gang was back into the Macalania woods. Close by on their main path, the Calm Lands were just close by. Now wasn't the time to go there just yet. Yuna wanted to be alone at a spring. Kimahri was with her to mainly make sure she was safe. Tidus heard this from Rikku. He wasted no time in heading over to where Yuna was.
It seemed like Yuna wasn't the only one broken. Melanie could see it off of Auron's face. Just like Yuna, both of them were expressing it very well. Melanie was on his lap, her goggles dangling around her neck, and his arms were around her. His hold on her was like he was going to lose her again whether it be soon or later on. He couldn't bare another parting like that again. Her head rested on his chest. They didn't mind the staring they were getting once in a while from both Rikku and Wakka. Rikku was being a goofball, grinning once in a while like a little child. Melanie blinked at this, just a bit confused, but remembering she was only sixteen. To her, Rikku was still just a child. What she liked the most was that Wakka wasn't looking at her like some heathen anymore.
"Wakka," Melanie called out calmly, getting his attention. "How are you feeling... after learning what Bevelle had done to your religion?"
He hung his head low from his sitting posture with his elbow on his propped knee. He did not reply.
"How do you think Yuna feels," she continued. "It's not fair..."
"No, you're right," Wakka finally spoke up. "And I was such a jerk..."
"That's putting it lightly..." Melanie shook her head. "But to be truthful, it was never really your fault to begin with. I am sure Rikku doesn't hate you."
"Not at all," she agreed sounding a bit cheerful. " But I don't know what to think of anymore after seeing all that..."
"Didn't you say something about Yevon yourself?" Wakka looked up at Melanie.
She nodded slightly. "If you think there is no way of defeating Sin, you are wrong. There is a way even without using the final summoning. I know I said way too much before."
"It's helping us," Rikku admited.
"Is it... Or am I maybe ruining something I shouldn't be talking about at all... This was all for you to figure out, but when I am mad... I can't help but speak my mind..."
"It's not ruining anything! I think you are too worried..."
"Rikku..." Melanie looked at her. "I still am... I can't hide it to myself as well as I can't just speak it out without realizing the main issue I could cause... I know too much. I know all. They want me dead for it."
Melanie felt his hold become a bit tighter. To her, that was saying he would do anything to protect her, even if it meant killing an ally. She didn't want him to make a complete fool of himself again...
The trio returned after a good while. Yuna looked a bit more happier as she approached the group. Everyone was to try to rest if they could. They would be leaving by dawn. Once dawn came several hours later, they all departed from the woods and to the wide open lands of no trees or towns. This was the final spot to rest and stock up on supplies if need be. Melanie lied on the grass once Yuna let herself fall onto it. What was so nice about it was the sky was still a dark blue, stars were disappearing and the sun's light was stretching its way over to them. Melanie had her eyes closed. She was remembering the first time when she was here.
Yuna looked at her and saw a smile lightly form on her lips. "Did you do the same thing here?"
Melanie looked at her. "Your father joined me on the grass, just staring up at the sky. This was where I questioned them..."
"Do you know why Sin keeps coming back?" Auron interrupted her, remembering that question himself.
Both of the ladies looked up at him. Melanie nodded at him, a bit surprised and her face expressing it. She thought he wouldn't have remembered.
"But now we know... Let's keep moving."
Melanie got up and ran on down the path with a grin on her face. Once at the end, where the chocobos were before walking upon the Calm Land itself, she turned around to look at them. None of them followed her, but she did see a smile on Yuna's face. Rikku ran on down to join Melanie.
"You are very lucky to have her," Yuna told Auron.
He only looked at her, not responding.
"You really are. I mean it. I will request that you stay close to her." Yuna smiled. "No objections. I don't want to hear any excuses, ok?"
"We could have ended it ten years ago ourselves. We could have left you out of all this suffering," Auron stated, feeling guilt wrap around his mind.
"I do question it myself, but you know? I think she knew it was our fate. In a way, she gave me the chance to be happy when she knew this journey would bring sadness. She gave me the chance to believe when things would start to fall apart. She knew it couldn't be done back then. In a way, she is like a fayth's wish!" A thought struck her. "I think she actually is a fayth's wish... now that I think of it..."
"But why?" he questioned this.
Yuna's brows furrowed. "Something probably went wrong."
"Or she is here for me..."
Yuna smiled and shrugged. "Whatever the reason is. I ask of you... Stay close to her. She loves you."
Whatever the real answer was, she was happy this stiff man was able to soften up for once and accept love. Even if Melanie was here just for him, Yuna felt like she was here for more than just that. Yuna faced the lower path seeing Melanie getting Tidus onto one of the wild chocobos. Once he was on, it started to run about and he was wailing while holding onto its neck to not fall off. She giggled at this and met with the others.
The gang stopped for a while at the center of the land, some stocking up on supplies and checking out wears. Lulu was surprised to see a familiar face approach them.
"Father Zuke!"
"Long time no see," he replied to Lulu. He faced Yuna now. "You are Yuna? Hmm... You certainly don't look like Maester Kinoc's murderer."
Wakka stood before Yuna to defend her of what he just heard that made him upset. "What did you say?"
It was a bit shocking to Yuna as well. "Please, tell us what happened."
"Maester Mika just issued a personal order, you know," Zuke addressed them. "It said that you and your guardians murdered Maester Kinoc and fled. We are to kill you on sight, or so it says."
This news put Yuna's mind in a bit of fright.
"What of Bevelle?" Auron asked.
"Things are calm on the surface, but the depths are turbulent. After the death of Maester Kinoc, Kelk Ronso left Yevon."
"Convenient. Getting around will be easier with Yevon in disarray." Auron seemed a bit pleased with this.
"But be careful, my friends," Zuke warned. "You have been branded enemies of Yevon. You should avoid temples for the time being."
"Thank you, Father Zuke," Yuna bowed. "For your warning."
"Father, you came all the way here just to tell us this?" Lulu asked.
"To tell the truth, I was a little curious to see... this summoner you were guarding. I hope her pilgrimage goes well. For your sake, too. I must be off. I shall pray for all of you."
Zuke took his leave. Melanie was glad nothing was mentioned about her, but she believed it was possible. She might have been labeled before anyone else to be gotten rid of first; to be counted as very dangerous and to kill with no question in mind. Not something she really needed, but seeing how Yuna was now, things would not be the same again, even if they were to return to Bevelle. They would have to with little choice in the matter later on. Even if Bevelle was in a bit of a struggle, that would not stop them from sending a few on up to find them and attempt to kill them. Melanie was mostly happy to have Seymour taken care of first. If not, he would have bothered them one more time before going inside the shell of Sin. It wasn't something they needed; a repeat of that man's psychotic needs.
It didn't take long for everyone to continue down their main path. It was getting colder. Mt. Gagazet was just right there. The cold wind blowing down upon them all... It was the mountain's greeting to anyone standing before its summit. Melanie made a pause and pulled the goggles over her eyes. The wind was cold, but the sun was shining brightly down upon them. The reflecting snow made it so much brighter. She felt her hand was taken and a pair of sun glasses were set in them. She looked up seeing Auron giving him his only one he had. He didn't mind one bit.
"I think they would look better on you anyway," he told her. He knew hers were missing. He just didn't want to admit that part.
Melanie pulled the goggles down and put them on. She let her left arm slip out of her sleeve and slung it over just out of the opening of her haori, resting that arm on her belt. She got a bit of a chuckle out of him when he realized what she was doing. He shook his head with a light smile and a small glare. He reached for her arm to adjust it properly to make it how he would have it. She needed to relax her arm and just let it hang. Her palm was facing inward. Satisfied with his results, he gave an improving nod. Their little joking around ended though once they heard Kelk Ronso's voice telling them to leave. The others were up ahead.
Yuna had handled it pretty well on explaining that even though many will hate her, she rather continue on to bring peace to Spira. There was nothing more she would ask for. Traitors or not, Yuna's will as a summoner was as strong as steel. It mattered not if they turned their backs on the false teachings. It was all Kelk Ronso needed to her and understand.
Kimahri also handled Biran and Yenke well on his own. Only the Ronso can deal with Ronso problems. While everyone watched the struggle, Melanie knew it wasn't size that mattered. One could be large and still take a massive tumble. They both stood taller than Kimahri, but he had the skill and the heart. Melanie thought it was ridiculous to be a bully to someone that lost to them before. It was a bit harsh to not let him pass due to him being weak, claiming the mountain does not like the weak. Kimahri was anything but weak. Yuna was happy to aid him after Kimahri won.
Before everyone left on up, the Ronsos sang the hymn of the fayth. They would soon begin construction of Yuna's statue with a grand horn on her head. The group departed on up and trudged through the blinding snow. The winds picked up and blew the snow about.
"So, when are you gonna step out of the closet from this fear?" Tidus asked Melanie, seeing her still with her arm out and Auron's sunglasses on.
"What fear?" She looked at him raising one brow at him.
Tidus rubbed his arms. "Come on. You idolize him."
She pulled her arm back and inserted back into the sleeve. "He gave me this for my eyes, you idiot. I was just kidding around when I had my arm out like that, ok?" She shook her head. "You are just as insane as Dad dressed like that."
"I'm not the only one," he protested. He was right, though.
"I know. I just like picking on you."
"You are gonna be just as blue as the Ronso here."
Tidus wasn't the only one shivering cold either. Not like coats were easy to come by, nor were there any to grab before coming along this way. It wasn't like the lake either there, it seemed a bit warmer and it was inhabited. Here, only the Ronso claimed this location as their home.
"How far are we before we are there," Tidus complained.
"Believe it or not, it's not that long of a road here. Steep, yes, but it's not that long." Melanie looked around, seeing everyone else still keeping up along the way. "It sure is boring though..."
"Well you made three trips, right?"
"Not up this far, no..." Melanie turned back around to keep walking. "I only went to the calm lands and headed back after staying there for a few days of camping."
"How did Dad become Sin?" He changed the topic from curiosity.
"Later... Not now. All will be made clear when we get up there."
"I wanna know now."
Melanie quickened her pace.
"Aw come on! I thought I would have the right to know at least! He is your dad, too!"
That didn't stop her. If he wouldn't take a no anymore, her best option would be to just get away from him for a bit. He didn't chase after. He didn't have the energy for it. The cold was just too much. Tidus kept his arms huddled to his stomach and crossed in hopes to keep the little heat he had left. Melanie had been waiting by a ledge once everyone else got to the top. It was the place where they would have ended up fighting Seymour again. She was mostly glad she could stop it all before the crazed man killed most, if not all the Ronso.
"You can't get away that easily," Tidus shouted at her followed by a laughter.
She didn't turn around to look at him. This concerned Yuna. She carefully walked up to Melanie and set a hand softly on her shoulder.
"What happened?" Yuna's tone was soft.
"Something you won't like hearing," Melanie responded back to her. "It's complete crud, but it happens..."
"But what did?"
"Dad is Sin," Melanie put it simply for her.
Yuna had a hard time accepting that. "Are you certain?"
"Yeah," Tidus jumped in. "He really is. I don't know how or why... My old man is Sin."
"You know... I must..."
"Oh trust me, Yuna. I think he would rather die than let himself be completely consumed by that shell of a beast. I would gladly fight him and set him free... No longer a trapped soul..."
"Same here," Tidus agreed.
Yuna looked at the both of them for a bit. "Is there something else you are not telling me?"
"Yeah, Tidus is gonna do something stupid so yell at him when he passes out." Melanie walked to the group. "Stay close to Yuna!"
"Is there something I missed?" Yuna asked.
"I really don't have a clue." Tidus rubbed the back of his head. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine. I'm more worried about you, Yuna."
She only looked at him.
Tidus grabbed both of her hands and pulled her along back to the others. "I promise we will find a way to keep you safe."
"Wow, you better hold those words dear, brother. You slip up and your ass will have two blades in it."
"You said you knew of a way," he scoffed at her.
"It was sarcasm. Yes I do."
"Why don't you tell us then?" Rikku chimed in.
Melanie shook her head. "You will find out once we are there. The story will pretty much play itself out."
"No fair!" Rikku stomped her foot in the snow.
Melanie grabbed some snow and rubbed it in her face causing Rikku to stumble backwards. Tidus laughed at that. A snow ball was hurled at him.
"Hey!"
"Serves you right for laughing," Rikku spat out.
Tidus molded himself a ball and threw it right back at Rikku.
"We should keep moving," Auron informed.
Melanie picked up some snow, staring right at Auron.
"Put that down," he instructed her, trying to sound a little intimidating.
She slowly packed the snow, still staring at him.
"Melanie..."
Before he knew it, a snow ball plowed him in the face catching him off guard.
"Come on, old man! Stop being such a stiff and learn to have some fun!" Tidus laughed.
Just the way how Tidus said old man irked him. He wasn't that old. Melanie handed him the snow ball she packed together, making it a hard one. He accepted it nicely and threw it hard against Tidus' head.
Tidus gripped the side of his head where it hit him. "Ow!"
"You are right," Auron said to him. "That was fun."
Melanie had set snow on Auron's head slowly, rubbing it in gently. Yuna was giggling like mad at all this. Tidus and Rikku were constantly throwing snow at each other.
"Kids will be kids." Lulu giggled a bit at this.
Auron grabbed Melanie by the neck with one arm to rub snow constantly on her head. She was trying to pull away while laughing and telling him to stop. Not once had she heard Auron laugh. This was her first time hearing this and seeing that he was having fun. For once in his life, he was actually having fun. His hold on her loosened and his arm moved down and around her. She could feel her face flush.
"I think that snowball is bruising the side of my head." Tidus rubbed that spot that plummeted hard while he stood up.
"We should keep on moving now. And... Thanks..." Auron had Melanie still and took her along with him as he walked. "We are almost there..."
A certain wall caught all of their attention. By it, water was flowing up in a thin spiral, wrapped around in an aura. It seemed creepy in a way. The same aura was on the wall of what looked like people frozen in time in positions of suffering and prayer. They looked like they had seen the horror and all they can do is dream to keep the Zanarkand they once knew alive. As yuna simply explained, they are fayth.
"A summoning!" She seemed surprised by this. "Someone is using these fayth! Someone is drawing energy from all of them!"
"This many?" Rikku asked.
"Who wields power on this scale, and what could they be calling?" Lulu asked next.
Rikku ran up to Auron. "Hey, you know something, don't you. Spill the beans!"
"Look not to others for knowledge. This is your journey, too."
"Only Melanie is allowed to say that!" Rikku crossed her arms. "Yunie might die, you know?"
"No," Tidus stepped in. "Auron's right. This is our... This is my story."
Melanie gently pushed Auron's hand off her that held her in place and approached Tidus. His reaction was too quick. He touched the wall, not knowing what it would do to him. Once his hand left the wall by her grabbing that hand and pulled it away, he swayed around and fell on the ground. Soon enough, she went under and collapsed next to him.
It was the very same place Melanie remembered seeing when she was too tired to stay awake after the fight with the chocobo eater. It was the very same location and still, no one else was around. It was only her along with Tidus this time. Before Tidus would wake up in that world, she ran in to the house boat seeing that hooded boy. Maybe now she can get some answers.
"Boy. Boy," she called out. "Where are you!"
"Welcome back," was his kind greet to her while he kept himself huddled up against a wall.
"I need to know who I am."
"You don't have much time here," he told her.
"I know that! I want to know as much as I can with the little time I have! How did I get here... I am not a dream like Tidus."
"Be careful what you say." His hooded gaze went over to Tidus who stood at the doorway.
Melanie faced him. She could feel her face go pale.
"What did you mean by that?" he asked her with a low tone. "I am a dream?"
The boy stood up. "Yes... And because you touched him, Melanie. That is how you entered this world."
"So it wasn't the wall... Wait a minute, how was I here before then? When I fell asleep!"
He chuckled a bit. "I came to you."
"Hold on a sec," Tidus jumped in. "Can you explain to me how I am a dream?"
"Long ago," the boy began. "There was a war between Zanarkand and Bevelle. Bevelle's machina assured their victory from the start. Spira had never seen such power. The summoners of Zanarkand didn't stand a chance."
"And the survivors all became fayth," Melanie jumped in. "All this to keep it alive in a way, but as a dream by all of you..."
"I'm sorry," the boy told her. "You two share something in common. You don't really exist, but at the same time, you are more than what you think."
"What?" Tidus questioned his riddle there. He was beginning to feel uneasy about all this, himself, as much as Melanie was. "Just say it..."
The boy looked to Tidus. "You and your father were touched by Sin. You are more than just dreams."
"And you all want to stop dreaming, I get it. That will come, but right now I want to know who I am! I am not real but I am at the same time? What does that mean?" Melanie's anger was starting to peek.
"When the time is right... Come back to Bevelle. I can tell you more. Right now, you are just a vessel."
Light consumed the world. Tidus and Melanie could feel themselves slipping from the dream. Yuna was hovering over Tidus, calling out to him in hopes that will wake him up. She was worried if she were to touch him, the same effect would happen to her. He stirred and sat up, shaking his head as if to shake that memory out of there. Melanie slowly sat up seeing Rikku almost in front of her face. Both of them had stood up.
"Are you alright?" Yuna asked, sounding really worried.
"We were so worried about you," Rikku said, sounding the same as Yuna.
"We are fine," Melanie said in a low tone.
"You don't sound it." Rikku stood up. "Are you sure?"
Melanie stood up and rubbed her head. "We will need to return to Bevelle soon after this final aeon business..."
"What did you see?" Auron took her arms, one hand rubbing her arm.
Melanie shook her head after a bit of hesitation in answering him. "Come with me to find out, please... I will learn more about myself there. I have to see that boy..."
Tidus kept his mouth shut about himself. He could see just how down Melanie was. She looked like she was trying to stay strong. He remembered how she was able to shut down though. For everyone's sake, he thought it would be best for him to keep his secret to himself. If anyone knew that he was a dream, Yuna would possibly distance herself from him completely. She already knew his father was Sin. He didn't want her on a spiral of pain and despair. He wasn't sure which was worse; being a dream or being a vessel.
"Are you able to move on," Auron asked her.
She only nodded. She knew there was no turning back. They were too far to just give up right here, right now. With nothing else to say, everyone else moved on. Through the inside of the mountain, all the way to the top, Rikku started to doubt all this again. Even in Yuna's comfort and reminding her that Melanie knew of a way that they were to see soon, she was still willing to give her life in case. All the way till the end... Yuna didn't realize she dropped a sphere while in the middle of calming Rikku. Tidus watched everyone go on. He picked up the sphere and held it closely to his ear. He closed his eyes and listened to the message. He listened to the whole thing not knowing Melanie was right behind him. He snickered a bit. His lips curving into a smile.
"What did she say?"
Tidus turned around and set the sphere down, acting like a caught child drawing on the walls. "Uhh..."
"Now do you see why I told you to wait for just a bit longer?" Melanie smiled a bit.
"Well, it wasn't about me if that's what you are saying."
This caught her attention. "What was it about?"
"How you and Auron are perfect for each other. How you both act and how your marriage would go if you ever did... um..."
"You don't want to finish that sentence..." She glared at him but couldn't help smiling afterward. "I rather not know anyway for it's none of my business to be honest. How things go for me will come differently and at my own pace."
"I'm sure she was only kidding around."
"I am sure she was. She wants them to smile if they were to listen to that, but we already know what's going to happen."
"I don't," he admitted.
Melanie smiled and faced the path, walking forward. "They find a way themselves. Hope returns to them."
