A/N: You know, some authors plead that their computer died, or they had to format it. I'm kind of shaking my head at that.

I formatted my system recently. Even if I DIDN'T have a flash drive, there's alternate ways to back up data. E-mailing the files to yourself every once in awhile is one thing that I did when my USB drive decided that it didn't like the drivers, and refused my flash drive.

One formatted hard drive later, and I've lost no work.

Here's a note for anyone who writes a lot: get a flash drive, and back up your work every so often. Thus, all computer crashes don't destroy your work.

/Sandstone rant.

All the way to Bevelle:

We were walking towards the Moonflow, occasionally bashing away a few bandits. Not many, though, most weren't that stupid. The fiends were… but not the bandits.

I heard a cry, but before I could say a word, Yuna dashed ahead of us, shooting a fiend in her way.

&&&&&

A few bandits were trying to rob someone atop a wagon, with a chocobo hitched to it for movement. Yuna shouted, "Stop!", and the bandits froze.

I arrived a moment behind her, my pokemon out, and looking ready to cause hell. "Run or die. Your choice."

The bandits looked at each other, and ran. I rolled my eyes, returning my pokemon as they left sight.

The driver called out "Os… thank yoo for sshhhaving me."

A hypello was sitting atop a wagon, a chocobo hitched to it for movement. I looked over the rig, then sighed. It screamed, 'please rob me', but… bah.

Yuna smiled gently, then asked, "Where are you going?"

"To da chief at the Moonflow."

I shook my head, and looked at the others. "Now we're in the protection business?"

Yuna grinned at me. "Come on, we're already going there…"

I sighed, but shrugged. Rikku grinned, and rested her arm over my shoulders "Yunie, don't worry about him."

I laughed softly, and followed them.

&&&&&

A very strange looking guy rushed over as we escorted the wagon to the moonflow. "Oh ho ho, you returned!"

The Hypello driver explained, "Thanks to these ladies."

I rolled my eyes, and said to the air, "Am I invisible again?"

Rikku and Yuna giggled. I merely grinned, and then asked, "Uh, who are you?"

He must have not heard me… "Yup-yup! Of course, you've been most helpful! With this, the show is just a step away from smashing success! Here, take this as a reward! Oh, and my name is Tobli." He handed Yuna a sphere, and her eyes went wide for a moment, before she looked over at me. I just rubbed the back of my head, trying not to get a headache. Tobli continued, "Oh, and take this with you, too! For everything you've done." He held up two garment grids, which Rikku took with a grin. Tobli finished, "It's such a good fuzzy feeling, meeting reliable people persons such as yourselves. Yessiree."

Yuna managed to get out, "You're very welcome!"

Rikku finished, "Just remember, it was the Gullwings that helped you out!"

We moved on to the shoopuf launching station, and got on board.

&&&&&

Yuna said, "Well, this has… been interesting."

Rikku ruffled my hair, and said, "Aw… without you, we wouldn't have gotten that dressphere."

Paine remained silent, just sort of watching the moonflow pass by. I sighed, and asked, "And the dressphere is…"

Yuna looked it over, then smiled. "Gun-mage."

I arched an eyebrow, then laughed. "Yuna, you're going to use that a lot, aren't you?"

She grinned at me, saying lightly, "Maybe."

I laughed, and said softly, "First it was Aeons, now it's guns. What happened to the nice Yuna I knew?"

Rikku's lip quirked, like she was repressing a grin at that. Yuna frowned at me, and then she shot back, "You happened, Icewind."

I smirked slightly. "Aw, I'm not that bad…"

Yuna just giggled, and I sighed, then mimed drowning. "Gleh… drowning in estrogen…"

Rikku whacked me on the head, and growled, "What was that?"

I fell over (not that far, I was sitting, like the others), landed in her lap, and said, "mmm… forget it. Too comfy here…" I'd wanted to do that sooner or later… that seemed like a good time.

&&&&&

We blew through Guadosalam, so there isn't much to say about it. I WAS tempted to attack the Leblanc HQ (it was in Seymour's former place), but I didn't. We did take a rest at the inn there, though.

We stopped at the Thunder Plains, fighting fiends.

Yuna asked me, "How bad was Rikku, while the two of you stayed here?"

Rikku shot me a look, and I blinked mildly. "Not that bad, all things considered. A bit jumpy, but we had Vib and Erastrani out anyway."

Yuna giggled, "That wasn't what I meant."

I shrugged, and whispered to her, "And I'm not going to say, sis. Rikku'd be after my head if I said a word about some of the stuff." Yuna smiled silently in response.

&&&&&

As we passed through Macalania forest, there was the one bird / guy that Tidus had played 'chase the blue butterflies' with, standing morosely, looking skyward. "The woods will soon be no more." We remained silent, and he walked off, playing his harp.

After he disappeared from sight, the four of us exchanged looks. Paine finally asked, "What was he talking about?"

Rikku, myself, and Yuna, we all knew. Yuna said in a guilty tone, "When the Fayth disappeared, the woods were… affected."

Paine looked out at the forest. Actual light was shining through, and it wasn't a crystal paradise. "You can't do anything about it, Yuna… and don't blame yourself. It was a sacrifice Spira needed."

Yuna nodded, and said softly, "I know."

&&&&&

We passed two more residents of the forest. A politoad-like guy with drums, and a catlike figure with horns. Each said something along the lines of, "This place is doomed."

After the third one walked away, and vanished, Yuna sighed heavily.

&&&&&

We reached a place where there were several paths. I looked at one, where I thought I caught a flash of something moving. "Let's go to that one spot Auron found."

Yuna nodded absently, and Rikku said as she looked around, "Where are the Guado? Aren't they supposed to be here?"

&&&&&

As we entered 'Auron's grotto' (for lack of a better word), Rikku's question was answered. Several Guado were around, and more walked the woods. Tromell was there too, he walked over to us, and then bowed deeply to Yuna. In a depressed tone, he said, "Oh, High Summoner Yuna. Forgive me for the grief I have caused you."

Yuna asked him, "How have you been?"

Tromell looked away from us, and into the forest. "Well... With Lord Seymour gone, we Guado are hardly different from the dead." He trailed off, and continued after a few moments, "Many Ronso lost their lives at the hands of Lord Seymour. Those who survived swore vengeance for their fallen comrades. We Guado sealed ourselves away in Guadosalam and strengthened our defenses... But soon we no longer had the strength for even that. Now, we live among the shadows of these woods…"

Yuna said sadly, "Tromell…"

Tromell bitterly continued, "High Summoner… do not trouble yourself to show sympathy for the Guado. We once walked willingly with Lord Seymour, never questioning… even as he led all Spira into madness. Lady Yuna… I cannot ask that you forgive us... only that you forget us."

Yuna said again, "Tromell…" She must have been getting depressed, from his speech.

Tromell remained quiet for a few moments, then shook himself, and looked at us, as if he just realized we where there. "Ah, well, what brings the high summoner to these woods?" He sounded more normal now…

Yuna remained silent for a moment, as if deciding to act like she'd never heard him say his depressing speech. She must have decided to act like she'd never heard it, because she said lightly, "Well, I'm a sphere hunter now."

Tromell peered at her for a moment, then said, "Hm. A sphere hunter?"

Rikku stared at him, then looked over at me, her lips curving into a grin. "We hunt spheres."

Tromell crossed his arms, and fingered his chin. "You don't say... Well, then, please allow me to give you this." He held out a sphere to Yuna. "It is of no use to us." He sounded faintly bitter at that line, but I ignored it. Yuna peered at it for a moment, then took it in her hands. Rikku said, "Score!", and I chuckled helplessly as she started her 'victory dance'

Yuna said almost in shock, "Thank you!"

As she looked back in it, I caught a garment grid hanging from the edge of her palm, and fielded it before it hit the ground. We left, and I said softly, "Where'd this come from?"

Yuna looked at it, and then said, "Strange, it's only got two dresssphere slots."

Rikku rolled her eyes. "We'll deal with it later, and ask the know-it-all."

Yuna smiled, remaining silent.

"Urgh, so now where?"

Paine said quietly, "Macalania temple fell into the lake, but there's still a travel agency. We could rest there."

We mostly just shrugged, following her to the travel agency.

&&&&&

Rikku groaned quietly, "So much for the agency!" Three Al Bhed were standing by the door, and shouting for O'aka, that merchant that occasionally showed up during Yuna's pilgrimage.

Speaking of the devil… I turned, and caught him peeking at them. He noticed my gaze, and whispered, "Do O'aka a favor, and forget that ye ever saw him!" Before any of us could say a word, he disappeared.

The girls and I exchanged a look, and walked away from the agency. I asked, "What was that about?"

Rikku raised her hands to the back of her neck, then said, "Those were debt collectors. He probably borrowed a lot of gil, and couldn't pay them back."

I sighed softly. "Merchants." At home, they were even worse, but still…

&&&&&

Rikku called, "O'aka the twenty-third! Where are you…"

I caught a flash of fabric, and sighed. "Damn, he's fast. Time to cheat."

I sent out Psymachine, and he rolled his eyes. We'll catch up with him now. I'll levitate you there, hang on.

I nodded, but Paine looked at me questioningly. Yuna, myself, and Rikku exchanged grins, as suddenly we lifted off, and jetted through the air. "What is this?"

Rikku called, "Just enjoy it!"

We set down by a familiar cave. I took one look at it, then glanced at Yuna. She looked around, and her eyes became distant, before she shook herself and went back to normal. She turned to Psymachine, and asked, "Is he here?"

Inside.

I shrugged, walking inside. Paine looked a little ruffled, but followed.

Psymachine floated above us, and I caught his eyes glowing for a moment, causing a certain O'aka to come floating out. He flailed about for a moment, then slumped. "Looks like ye caught me. Mind setting me down?"

I looked over at Psy, and I caught the feeling of a mental shrug, before he was set down on the solid ground. I said warningly, "Psy's reactions are faster than a human's. So don't bother running, he'd catch you before you went two meters."

O'aka stared at me, then sighed. I said slowly, "What the flaming hell is going on, O'aka?"

O'aka looked mildly depressed, as he said, "I bought the Travel Agency from Mr. Rin, but then the temple nearby sank to the bottom of the lake. And business sank with it. Just my luck." I nodded silently, and he continued, "Now the Al Bhed have come to collect and they're not in the mood for excuses. Think ye could give old O'aka a place to lay low? Hmm? For a while? I'll find a way to make it up to ye, I promise."

Yuna turned to us. "What do you think? Sounds like he's in trouble…"

Paine rolled her eyes. "We're not a hideout."

Rikku argued, "Yeah, but if he pays them back…"

Paine sighed, and Yuna turned to me. When I wordlessly shrugged, she said, "Let's hide him on the airship."

O'aka said happily, "Thank ye!"

Rikku yawned, and asked, "What about catching some sleep?"

I looked over the girls, Rikku looking the most tired. "How about we just go to a hotel at Bevelle?"

Yuna looked nervous, and I winked at her. "We'll fly in, and I'll get the rooms. No one will know that the High Summoner Yuna is staying there, it'll just be a friend of Icewind's."

&&&&&

I waved to the sky, and four figures gracefully landed. Psy nodded to me, and returned himself to his pokeball. I said in a half-sigh, "We've got two rooms." I tossed Yuna one set of keys, and Paine the 'spare' for that room. "Since it would be better for everyone's sanity, Rikku and myself are taking the single bed room, you two get a double."

Yuna looked at the key number, and nodded. "What time are we going to leave?"

Rikku asked curiously, "Why are you so nervous, Yunie?"

Yuna looked away evasively, and said, "It's… I'm just tired." She walked away, unlocked the room, and I could hear her 'falling' onto one of the beds.

Paine crossed her arms for a moment, then followed Yuna inside the room, closing and locking the door in the process.

I turned to Rikku, and shrugged. "When's your bad time of month coming up? You haven't been looking too well recently."

Rikku shrugged. "I already had it… sorry for scratching you up at Besaid."

I blinked. She'd gone through PMS and still acted semi-normal at Besaid? "I don't even want to know how you managed that."

She grinned, and whispered, "Al Bhed secret. Now I need some real sleep, and you've got shadows under your eyes."

I nodded, sat down on the bed, and fell asleep before my head hit the pillow.